The human experience is constructed by individual realities that are lived out by people like you and me. We determine our own distinct trajectory in life by pursuing our own personal goals and desires, thus creating individual experiences that inherently differ from one another. Our realities are shaped by a number of factors: physical and social environments, kinship networks, cultural norms, and, most importantly, our education.
Girl Rising revealed that many people, especially girls in developing countries, perceive and value education in different ways. These young women have a completely different understanding of what it means to be educated. In many ways, education is tied to their understandings of equality, freedom, and justice. I want us a class to reflect on how the nine different girls experience education and think of the following questions:
What value does education add to an individual's quality of life?
How can education impact/transform a community?
How can education change the world?