Since the school year has started, more and more students have been complaining about having to attend on a regular basis. Yes, school is stressful and having piles of homework to get done isn’t the desired way for most teenagers to spend time, however kids around the world don’t get the opportunity to have an education and realize their potential like we do.

Around 70 million children all across the globe do not have access to education due to circumstances like natural disasters or poverty. The geographical location of a person should not limit someone’s access to education, but unfortunately it does.

Many young children are burdened with working to support their family or not having the funds to pay school fees. These children don’t gain the basic skills like learning to prevent illness, build confidence to better their communities or manage relationships like we do.

One of the many examples is a family that consists of three children in Abu Dhabi. Poverty has taken a toll on them and not getting the opportunity to go to school leaves the kids “heartbroken” and with a wary future. This inauspicious situation is one of the million cases that we aren’t even aware of.

It’s understandable why some teenagers don’t enjoy school, as it’s not suited for everyone, but being privileged and gaining knowledge through attending school can help us help those who can’t escape poverty and exploitation.

Education is such an easy thing to take for granted, because it’s something many students here have had since the age of four. While we’re all accustomed to these advantages and stress is inevitable, sometimes it can be beneficial to evaluate the situation and put ourselves in someone else’s shoes.

Sincerely,

Sydney