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What exactly is a post-secondary education? When observing from a distance, I believe it can be deduced to an expensive process of problem solving, which potentially leads to a larger pool of career opportunities. But exactly how practical is the process?

I assume that most college/university students have enrolled in the hopes of a larger chance at a successful career. While there are exceptions of largely successful individuals who have little education, our society is designed around the concept of reserving higher end positions to those most qualified (combination of experience and education.)

But how much are we taking home at the end of a semester? Someone with no education and a great business idea can quite easily find the resources to guide them in their quest for success. Entrepreneurship does not require a certificate of education, and resources in creating a business are not held exclusively for the educated. Students of business are taught many different aspects of business, which might make the process easier for a business graduate.

It seems to me that the education system is generally based around problem solving more than it is in retaining knowledge. Here I am, cramming for a mid-term I have later this afternoon, with a larger concern of memorizing the information then actually trying to understand it and relate it to my life. In fact, most of the tests I’ve taken in my life are mainly focused on simply knowing the information, which can easily be achieved by last-minute memorization.

The problem is in retaining the information. How I wish I had paid more attention in high school, because there are many things of general knowledge that I am ignorant of (particularly history and geography.) Yet, I don’t remember struggling in high school in order to move on to a higher education. Conceivably, should not a student who has graduated with decent marks have a better understanding of the material taught?

I think this can be boiled down to two issues: the input of the student, and the testing process. The student will get out of the education processes whatever they put into it. What I mean is that even though I can just memorize information, pick my multiple choice answer, and forget about the information, it doesn’t mean that that is how the system is intended (could just be a loophole.)

While testing generally is the majority determinant of our marks, most teachers engage their students in activities with the intention of ensuring an understanding of the material. Research papers, oral presentations, group work, etc. Without standard testing, student results are in the hands of the teachers, which can be objective. So while standard testing may not be the most effective way of absorbing the information, it provides a measurement of education, which is critical in the education progression.


Okanagan college is the twelfth school I have attended in my 21 years of education. After going through the Canadian (and American) education system with relative ease, why is it that I feel like I haven’t learned a damn thing?

"I don't have education, I have inspiration.
If I was educated I'd be a fool."

"They say what we know is just what they teach us."
-Bob Marley