To be educated is to experience

           "Do not confuse school with education", said my wise teacher once upon a time. His words startled me a bit. I mean, isn't school our education? I suppose it's part of it, but it doesn't complete the spectrum of what the term 'education' is suppose to encompass. Too often I find myself and others considering school this "higher power" in the education world as if it's our main source of learning. However, it's not.
           Instead, a small portion of school is just teaching us to abide by the 8:30am to 3:30pm work day schedule as well as force feeding us information that may or may not matter in several months (which is why it's a shame that they test you on it all at the end of that time spectrum). The rest of school is actually really important and involves good teachers who whether you realize it yet or not, will impact you for the rest of your life (I can already name a few). But to really achieve a lifelong form of education I think you need to step out of your four walled classroom and your routinely lived life into something brand new. To be blunt, I believe the best form of education is to travel. I do not believe there are many things more satisfying or mind altering than attempting to accept something beyond your routine.
         Education is not just about learning math equations or grammar, it's about learning about yourself and the people around you, let alone this world we live in. Someone brilliant once said, "the best way to get to know someone is to travel with them" (that's also an easy way to discontinue friendships so be careful who you travel with) but ultimately isn't learning that just as important as any math equation?
         I suppose the reality is I spent so long believing school was the only education, and forgetting that probably the biggest part of education is this: experience.