I was not born rich or intelligent. I was not born poor or lacking in intelligence. I think both wealth and knowledge are things which need to be acquired.
Family Background and Schooling
My parents were quite well off professional people. They felt it important that I should have the best education they could afford, so they paid for me to be educated privately. I did not flourish at school. I was never happy. I was always near the bottom of the class. This is because I was attending an elite school for high achievers. I never wanted to attend that school. I would much rather have gone to the local state run school, where I think I would have done much better. My natural level of intelligence would have put me higher in the class and I think I would have tried to achieve more. My main interests have always been in the arts, and I may have enjoyed my school days more if I has been able to study without pressure, rather than be studying at a school where the only aim was to get as many pupils as possible to qualify for entry to university.
After School
Most of my classmates went on to further education but, by the time I left school, my father had died, and my mother was no longer able to support me financially, so I trained for secretarial work and got a job in an office.
I must always have had a fairly high level of intelligence. I certainly never wanted to stop learning. Ever since I left school I have continued to learn and to study. I have been on several work-related training courses, and have joined classes to further my academic knowledge. I love learning new things, and always have done.
Later Life
Thirty years after leaving school I began studying for a degree in the humanities. I amazed myself as I never thought I would have the ability to write good essays, and getting a good mark for an essay meant more to me than a win on the lottery would have done. I enjoyed writing my essays and felt enriched by the experience of learning, even if I did not always get a high mark. I know that at the age of 18 I was not clever enough to go to university. Life experience and good general knowledge, were positive benefits to me as a mature student, and now I have attained my degree.
Attitude To Money
All the years I worked I have never been highly paid. Money is not very important to me. I have no desire for great wealth or for the things it can buy. I have always earned enough to live on and that is enough for me.
Some people strive all their lives to make more money, with the aim of becoming rich. I admire their determination and applaud their success, but I have never had the same urge. I would rather acquire knowledge than wealth. My life is richer for the things I have learned. I honestly believe that my intelligence has increased as I have grown older. I have been less successful financially, and to some people that would indicate failure; but I am proud of what I have achieved so far in my life. It does not matter to me what anyone else thinks about my lifestyle.
It is possible to be both wealthy and wise but, given the choice, I would much rather have knowledge than money.
