A Word On Life In General

From the perspective of a child, a foot of snow is an oasis, a "winter wonderland." Now that childhood has slipped between my fingers, the joy of snow appears to have done the same. It is beautiful indeed, there is no doubt, but the overwhelming satisfaction its arrival used to bring has ceased to exist in my mind. However, I have not yet turned into one of those kind of people who frown upon snow's arrival; on the contrary I was excited as any to hear of the approaching storm. Its just different this this year, in a way I cant quite articulate adequately enough to express what I really mean.

I guess a lot of life has been like that lately, a delicate balance between adolescence and adulthood. This season that I am in now feels like oblivion. This soon this will end, especially once college comes into view. The future is so vast, so open, so pregnant with possibility its overwhelming! There are so many choices for college, so many possible majors, and so many different careers and professions to pick from. I do know however, that the course of all my up and coming decisions will be led by the following words: "Ignorance, when voluntary, is criminal, and a man may be properly charged with that evil which he neglected or refused to learn how to prevent". What I've gathered is that there is need beyond imagination, and people living their lives in such desperation that I myself cannot simply lead my life as though blind to their plight. But simply giving money, as some suggest, will not solve the problem of global poverty. In my humble opinion, it will only worsen and prolong the effects of extreme poverty. By giving a person in need a handout, you will fill his stomach for a while. However, what state will be in after your money has been spent? Exactly where he was before you came into his life. The cycle of handouts only perpetuates poverty, because it does not raise the afflicted out of their state of desperation, it simply numbs the pain.

What then, if money in and of itself will not pacify the gaping wound of poverty, will alleviate the poor of their anguish? Education. The best way I've found to verbalize this concept is found in a Chinese proverb: Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.. I'm not saying that money is meaningless and that people who give are wasting their time. But what I am saying is that education is invaluable, a key to rising above even the most seemingly impossible circumstances.