Education: Our Most Valued Resource
The COVID-19 Pandemic has thrown each of us into a whirlwind and sadly it seems the end is still not within our sight. As many communities across the nation continue to find more positive cases, group activity programs will continue to remain on hold. This whirlwind has caused many of us to rethink and recommit to quality activity programming with a new perspective. Education has become our most valuable resource as we navigate together through this challenging time. The National Association of Activity Professionals has risen to the challenge in providing FREE quality education webinars for all Activity Professionals regardless of their membership status. The NAAP Board is determined more than ever to ensure the education needs are met. To date, we have provided 13 Free webinars with 10 more scheduled before June 30th. This has been an extraordinary experience for our NAAP office to schedule the webinars, provide the service, and then to follow through with sending out over 900 (to date) webinar education certificates. My kudos go out to Vanessa Emm, NAAP Operations Director for her dedication and time.
The question I ask myself often is what can NAAP do to support meaningful learning and change? There are four benefits of improving learning and change. They are effective learning, delivering a robust learning process, supporting learning, and providing useful change. Learning many times is treated as an event, yet it truly follows a process. Most learners underestimate their learning skills. There is a rather large “forgetting curve” that happens after we participate in an educational offering. In the past at our annual conferences, I would remind the attendees to take 1-2 things home they had learned at the event and incorporate them further into the programs or leadership style. Finding that return on your investment will make the learning more significant in the long run. With that being said, NAAP is committed to providing the quality continuing education so many of us need. I encourage you to make the commitment on your end to take the education you receive further and assimilate the new knowledge and skills further into your daily operation.
Education is the biggest tool you can put into your toolbox. Education gives us the knowledge of the world around us and allows us to make a change for the better. I found this great article on LinkedIn by Mohamed Reda on the “Top 10 reasons why Education is So Important” that I want to share with each of you.
- For a happy and stable life
If you want to lead a happy life and enjoy the good things the world has to offer, you certainly need to get educated. A great job, a good social reputation are a few of the many benefits of being an educated person. Education is a must for a promising and secure future and a stable life.
- Money
An educated person has more chances of landing up a good high paying job. Everybody wants a good life but the good life! It may be called as the “root of all evil” but most people will agree that money is important for survival in today’s world. The more educated you are, the better career options you have!
- Equality
If we want to see the world as a just and fair place where everyone is given equal opportunities, education is what we require. Education is a must if we want to do away with the existing differences between different social classes and genders. It opens a whole world of opportunities for the poor so that they may have an equal shot at well-paying jobs. Education also plays a major role in women empowerment
- Makes you self-dependent
Education is very important if you want to be a self-dependent person. It helps you become financially independent but that is not all. Education also makes you wiser so that you can make your own decisions
- Turns your dreams into reality
What is your dream, your aim in life? Do you want to become rich? Do you want to be popular? Do you want to be an extremely successful person who is respected by people? Well, the key to all this is education. Of course, there are exceptions, like sportsmen who don’t really owe their success to their education. However, in most cases, your degree is what helps you realize all your dreams.
- Makes the world a safer and more peaceful place
Education majorly affects our understanding of the difference between right and wrong. An educated person is well aware of the consequences of wrong/illegal actions and he is less likely to get influenced and do something which is not legally/morally right. Also, a number of uneducated people who live a poverty-stricken life owning to lack of opportunities often turn to illegal ways such as theft and robbery to solve their problems. If you are educated, you are well aware of your rights, the law and your responsibilities towards the society. Hence, education is an important factor which contributes in social harmony and peace.
- Makes you confident
Your educational degree is considered as a proof of your knowledge by many. If you are educated, you have more chances of being heard and taken seriously. Generally, an uneducated man will find it harder to express his views and opinions owning to lack of confidence. Even if he does so, people may not take him seriously. Education gives you the confidence to express your views and opinions.
- Society
We all live in a society which has its own set spoken/unspoken rules and one of them is education. The society expects you to go to school followed by college, get a job, settle down etc. In fact, education helps you become a useful member of the society. An educated member certainly has a greater chance to contribute to his community. Education helps you become an active member of the society and participate in the ongoing changes and developments.
- For economic growth of the nation
Australia, USA and Japan are few countries with very high literacy rates. These countries are extremely prosperous, and the citizens have a high per capita income. On the other hand, in underdeveloped and developing nations, where literacy rate is not as high, a number of people are still living below the poverty line. Education is vital for the economic prosperity of a nation!
- Saves you from being fooled/cheated
Education saves you from being exploited and fooled. We live in a country where we enjoy a number of rights and freedom. It is easier to take advantage of innocent and illiterate people. They may be trapped into signing false documents or be deprived of some right which they have because unlike an educated person they are not well aware of their rights and freedoms.
In the words of Malcom X: “Education is the passport to the future, for tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.”
Alisa Tagg BA, ACC/EDU, CADDCT, CDP, CDCS, NAAP Association Director
