by Anthony Megna

Created on: August 23, 2008   Last Updated: May 13, 2012

A lack of schooling should never hold a worker back! Although schooling is very important, experience is still the best teacher. Nothing I've learned in school sticks with me better than what I have experienced. Naturally, one can't experience everything in life, and for that there are teachers, books and film. But if you have experienced something completely, how can you not absorb that experience fully?

I don't care what school you go to, if you experience life in it's many variations you are more qualified. No test can prepare you better than having experienced something. If I were in a position to hire two people, one with a great deal of experience but no higher education and another with the education but no experience, who would I chose? Actually, I would chose the person with heart. The person who hungers for the position. Usually that is the person who has the experience and knows what he or she is doing. But not all the time either.

My father went to the eighth grade and got pulled out of school by his father to go to work. My dad cried and cried because he wanted to stay in school but times were tough and all hands were needed to work in a poor family. Well, when my father left home he rose through life's experience to become a master construction contractor. He built a majority of the nursing homes in New England, designing the buildings himself. All with an eighth grade education. He also earned his captain's license for ships. He was an airplane pilot. The list goes on and on. He wasn't afraid because he had limited education. He taught himself. If he didn't know something, he was determined to find out. That is what heart is all about. Determination and guts. He had it, not just because I loved him and he was my father. From what he accomplished it is plain to see that you can do it without higher education, but it is a lot tougher. Education makes things easier.

The road map is there when you have the education. You don't have to experience life yourself all the time. Learn by watching others and be observant. That is the best education one can get. Education is like having a great shortcut to your destination. It just makes things easier in life. It all comes down to having more information to make an informed decision. That is what education is all about.

No worker should be held back because he or she wants to do better. Just because there is not enough formal schooling in their background doesn't mean they can't do the job. If that person has the heart and determination, they are your best choice. And they will get the job done, with flying colors!

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