<p>Directions: Think carefully about the issue presented in the following statement and the assignment below.
An old proverb states that "Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age." Some take this saying to mean that the education one acquires throughout youth only becomes wisdom over time, as one ages and broadens his or her experience. Others view the proverb as a dismissal of the notion that only the aged and experienced can ever be truly wise.</p>
<p>Assignment: What is your view on the above statement? Plan and write an essay in which you develop your point of view on the issue. Support your position with reasoning and examples taken from your reading, studies, experience, or observation.</p>
<p>We have all heard the saying Knowledge in youth is wisdom in age. It means different things to different people. For me, the saying means that the education one acquires as a youth becomes wisdom over time. The reason I say this is because wisdom is not a thing which can be gained solely by education or experience. It is a mixture of both in the perfect proportion. For example, someone who was well educated as a youngster, but failed to put that knowledge to use can never be considered wise. However, someone who received a good education and puts it into practice throughout their life will surely turn out to be a wise person.
However, we have all read books or seen movies about the underdog who received a mediocre education yet, somehow, managed to put it into practice and achieved greatness. This is probably because what ultimately matters is the persons desire to learn and be wise. As we all know, wisdom is not something that can be attained merely through external factors.
It is said that Rome was not built in a day. Similarly, wisdom cannot be achieved overnight. Decades of struggle and hard work combined with the aforementioned external factors results in a person being truly wise.
Like most grandparents, mine too told me tales about their childhood and life as youngsters. I distinctly remember the story of Sally, a friend of my grandmothers back in the 1950s. Sally came from a family where none of the women were educated. As a young girl, she often stole books from her brothers bags and tried to make sense of what was written in them. When she was eighteen, she moved out and began taking night classes. She worked in the day to support herself and thats where she befriended my grandmother. Sally was hard working. Even if she had a minute free at work, she took out her books and began to study. Her persistence was admirable. Its almost six decades later today, yet my grandmother speaks of Sally with reverence in her tone. Sally became the first woman in the state to receive a PhD. She shared her knowledge with other young women, while constantly trying to change the face of society. Almost everyone that knows her admits that shes the wisest person they know. Did Sally receive a fine education? No. Did she gain wisdom? Yes.
In a similar way, we too, must strive towards the goal of wisdom never forgetting about men and women like Sally, who, against all odds, achieved wisdom. In short, I am of the opinion that the education and knowledge we gain as a youngster play an important part in determining how wise well be; but they arent the only things that matter. Willpower and hard work play equally important roles.</p>