Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable {mso-style-name:"Table Normal"; mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0; mso-tstyle-colband-size:0; mso-style-noshow:yes; mso-style-priority:99; mso-style-qformat:yes; mso-style-parent:""; mso-padding-alt:0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-para-margin-top:0in; mso-para-margin-right:0in; mso-para-margin-bottom:10.0pt; mso-para-margin-left:0in; line-height:115%; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:11.0pt; font-family:"Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-font-family:Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast; mso-hansi-font-family:Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;} What are you thinking about right now? What’s for lunch? Getting on Xbox LIVE after school? Chances are, you aren’t exactly thinking about your education. Education no longer seems to be a priority among students in America, or even Freedom, anymore. Whether it is leaving early for a sports competition, a field trip, or even skipping a night of homework to go see “Saw” in 3D, you’re still missing out on this opportunity. Let’s take sports, for example. Throughout the school year, numerous students leave school early to go to competitions, invitationals, or just leave early enough to get to their away game in time. Your teachers are fine with letting you leave for these things, but how would your coach react if you said you were missing a big game to go study for a test? He probably wouldn’t take that too kindly. Putting other things in front of education doesn’t just happen in Freedom, but is happening all over the country. For example, Seneca Valley School District wants to spend $1 million to upgrade their press box, even though they are in debt. Instead of bettering the education of their students – $1 million is enough for roughly 650 smart boards – they choose to build a new press box. Perhaps this is why America is falling behind the rest of the world with education. Sure, we use more modern and imaginative styles of teaching while China has always stuck to traditional styles, but their culture values education more than ours does. They think their education is one of the most valuable things in life. That is what American students need to think like. Now, I’m not saying life should be all work and no play, I just think that students should contribute more to their education so they can receive more from it. I personally think that you should come to school to learn, not come just to leave on work release, or come to leave for a sports event later in the day, but to get an education. Your education is free, after all, and it is something you will use for the rest of your life. So, use it, appreciate it, and make it one of your No. 1 priorities; it will all pay off in the end.