Education

  Do you have a university degree? If you do does that make you smarter than me? What if I have a Masters? Am I now better than you? You've got a PHD...well you are part of the elite. Does the amount of "schooling" you have make you smarter than others? Not in my humble opinion.

  Education is based on many factors not just a piece of paper from a college or university. I know an older lady for example who had to leave school in grade four to help support her widowed mother. She has a love of politics and reads anything and everything on the subject. Ask her a question and I'd bet money she knows the answer just as well, or better than a professor who lectures on the subject. 

  I also have a friend who has a level of intelligence that is scary to us mere mortals. But who cannot figure out the PVR or how to change a windshield wiper. Both of which are life skills. Ask about the inner workings of the Hubble telescope though and you better be prepared for a long night...complete with diagrams.

  Street smarts are extremely important too. As is excelling in social situations.  Neither of which you can get a degree in. Some people are born with a sixth sense of how to get things done and how to behave. A natural instinct if you will. These people will succeed with or without higher education.

  Living in a government town like Ottawa, people put way too much focus on university. The word trade is a swear word. That means you have a job, not a career. You are looked down upon in a way. Like you are just doing that til a real government job comes along.

  Not everyone is meant to go to university. Not everyone should. Because no matter how much of an intellectual you are you still want someone to deliver your groceries, collect the garbage and fix your car. 

  Next time you go to turn your nose up at a trades person remember this...there is no such thing as an unemployed plumber.

  Ang