LETTER | Real education is universal

LETTER | Real education is not about the paper chase that everyone pursues in life.

The paper chase starts from primary school, secondary and tertiary education, and postgraduate studies.

But, at the end of the day, real education is your attitude and behaviour towards others in everyday life.

No matter your career, be it a professor, doctor, teacher, consultant, engineer, clerk, technician or cleaner, it doesn't have a bearing whatsoever.

When you complete your job for the day and leave the premises, you are on level terms with everybody else.

Whether you are at the night market, supermarket or at the park, it doesn't matter. Your attitude and behaviour towards others is the defining factor of your personality.

All the years of education at school, and for some at university, have moulded you to be who you are. You cannot change it, just as the leopard cannot shed its spots.

You can be on your best behaviour when circumstances demand, but it is only temporary. The true self cannot be conceived forever. It will prevail in due course of time.

That is when and where you can differentiate the basic education of a person. It is no surprise that a person with a menial job could end up being a gem.

I have a few friends, viz, an ex-postman, an ex-laboratory attendant and an ex-student, who rose from being a laboratory attendant to senior assistant commissioner in Maktab PDRM Kuala Lumpur.

They all graduated from the real education school of thought.

The views expressed here are those of the author/contributor and do not necessarily represent the views of Malaysiakini.