On Education and Attitudes

"Education without values, as useful as it is, seems rather to make man a more clever devil."

-C.S. Lewis

Time and again, I am left appalled at the behaviour of some extremely educated and intellectual people. I find myself looking up to some people and admiring them for their achievements, and down goes my admiration the moment I find them looking down upon someone else or mistreating another individual.

I grew up learning from my parents that while education and knowledge were of extreme importance, they were incomplete without love, compassion and warmth towards others. My brother and I were always taught that people will, over a period of time, forget how much you knew, or what your credentials were, but they would never ever forget how you treated them and made them feel. 

What good are our degrees or our credentials if we can't bring a smile to someone's face? What good are your credentials if they can't mend a broken heart? What good is your education if you can't brighten up someone's day? What good is your degree if you can't bridge a gap between two estranged friends or brothers? What good are our achievements if we can't help someone in need? What good is our success if we can't appreciate the one who came second and helped us come first?