Pronunciation: \ˈskül\ Function: noun

What an interesting word, this thing called school. Where people come together, pile into classrooms, and diligently respect their higher powers in an almost feudal society. Where we learn to abstract think and use the four lobes of our brains. And hope someday, somehow, we will become better than we already are. That we will become one of the elite, the leaders of this world, that have nothing to worry about.

Some live for this word. They pour money into their prized education, hoping to become better than the person sitting next to them. To achieve 'A's in all of their classes and exams. Others see no value in this. They view the thoughts of common sense as greater than those that can be achieved academically. So, why is school necessary? Why are people around the world crying out for the freedom to be able to go to school? Why do they value this so much?

I honestly had no idea where this was going when I started writing. Where my thoughts would lead me, I had no idea. I was about to go in a after-math pity party in response to my finals. But here is where they went and here is the reality of what education can do.

Out of the world's 130 million out-of-school youth, 70 percent are girls.

An extra year of primary school boosts a girl's eventual wages by 10 to 20 percent.
An extra year of secondary school: 15 to 20 percent.

It is time to be thankful for this immense opportunity. To be thankful for our finals and large projects. We are able to have the ability to have thoughts that are shaped by our own ideals. This is due to education. These thoughts help us make a change in our world. That is why people espeically in third-world contries want to aquire education through academics. This gives them the ability to step up and fight against their oppression.