Can Education Truly Change Generations? | Eela Dubey | TEDxDFBEDU

Summary

This inspiring story highlights the transformative power of education through the journey of Goven Sharon, a man who immigrated to the United States in 1955, seeking a better life for himself and his family. Despite facing numerous challenges, including financial struggles and cultural adjustment, Goven's commitment to education changed his life and the lives of his descendants. The speaker reflects on their own experiences with the cost of education, its impact, and how they co-founded a company in India to help families manage education costs, aiming to make education accessible for all. The speech underscores education’s potential to redefine lives and legacies.

Takeaways

• 😀 The story of Goven Sharon emphasizes the transformative power of education, showing how it changed his life and the lives of future generations.
• 😀 Goven Sharon, originally from a small town in Bihar, moved to the U.S. in pursuit of education despite already having a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering.
• 😀 Goven Sharon's perseverance led to his children becoming successful professionals, such as a mechanical engineer and a doctor, with his grandchildren also achieving great success.
• 😀 The speaker reflects on their own journey of education, acknowledging both the value of education and the steep costs involved in pursuing a degree.
• 😀 The speaker's undergraduate degree at NYU cost 2.5 crores 16 years ago, and the cost has now risen to around 4 crores, illustrating the growing expense of education.
• 😀 Despite the rising cost of education, Indian parents are highly committed to ensuring their children receive quality education, often spending a significant portion of their income.
• 😀 Education inflation in India is increasing at a faster rate than household inflation, making education more expensive across all levels, from primary to postgraduate.
• 😀 Indian parents, on average, spend 11 times the GDP per capita on their children's education, one of the highest rates globally.
• 😀 The speaker co-founded a company in India to help families manage the affordability of education, working with over two lakh families in the past five years.
• 😀 The speaker highlights inspiring stories of Indian parents, such as Mr. Johan, an auto rickshaw driver who saves money for his children's education, showing the dedication to changing the course of their children's lives.
• 😀 The speaker concludes that education is not just a degree or diploma but a powerful force that shapes lives, redefining futures and legacies for generations.

Q & A

What motivated the speaker's grandfather to leave India and pursue education in the United States?

The speaker's grandfather, Goven Sharon, was motivated by his desire for a world-class education, despite already holding a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering. He believed that further education could change the course of his life.

How did Goven Sharon's journey to the United States reflect the struggles many immigrants face?

Goven Sharon faced significant challenges, including unemployment, living on welfare, and cultural adaptation. Despite these hardships, he persevered, working hard to provide a better life for his family, which highlights the resilience of many immigrants in pursuit of a better future.

What impact did Goven Sharon's education have on his family and future generations?

Goven's education transformed his life and the lives of his family members. His two sons became a mechanical engineer and a doctor, while his grandchildren became successful professionals, such as lawyers, doctors, and entrepreneurs, fulfilling Goven's dream of providing his family with better opportunities.

What realization did the speaker have about education after completing their undergraduate degree?

The speaker realized that while education is powerful and transformative, it also comes with a hefty price tag. The cost of education made them understand how expensive it is, and that the financial burden can prevent deserving individuals from accessing it.

How did the speaker address the high costs of education during their college years?

The speaker worked two jobs throughout college for four years, took a significant amount of education loans, and relied on their family's savings to afford their undergraduate education at NYU.

What led the speaker to drop out of their master's program at an Ivy League university?

The speaker dropped out of their master's program due to the financial burden it imposed, realizing that the cost of education was preventing many people from pursuing their dreams, despite the transformative power of education.

What solution did the speaker and their co-founder create to help address the affordability of education in India?

The speaker co-founded a company, Edu Fund, to help Indian families and students manage the high costs of education, offering solutions to make education more affordable and accessible.

How did the speaker describe the current state of education inflation in India?

The speaker highlighted that education inflation in India is rising at an alarming rate, faster than household inflation. The cost of education, both domestic and abroad, is increasing rapidly, making it harder for families to afford quality education.

What statistic about Indian parents' spending on education surprised the speaker?

The speaker was surprised to learn that Indian parents, on average, spend 11 times the GDP per capita on education, one of the highest in the world, despite the country's emerging economy and limited resources.

Why does the speaker believe that education is more than just a degree or diploma?

The speaker believes that education is not just about grades or certificates; it is about the power and freedom it provides. Education can change lives, redefine legacies, and open doors to limitless possibilities for future generations.