Myles Horton, One of America\'s Greatest Educators,

Myles Horton, one of America's greatest educators, believed that "you're supposed to do something worthwhile with your life, and education is meant to help you do something for others." (Horton, 2) Horton's words hold a special meaning in my life as I hope to use my education to practice as a child counselor in the field of Social Services.

Children are the future of society. Yet, there are many children out there who grow up with a sense of helplessness and a lack of confidence in themselves and their future. I should know because I was one such child. For, right through my early childhood, I believed that I would never amount to much in life. This belief was largely the result of my mother constantly expressing doubts over my abilities. Fortunately, my father disagreed with her and began taking an active interest in my education, leading to my graduating from High School and then Community College with an Associate in Science degree.

In retrospect, I was lucky. For, there are too many children who do not have the good fortune to get encouragement from even one parent. It is, therefore, important that such children receive the necessary guidance and encouragement from their educators and social service counselors. Indeed, this is precisely the reason why I hope to help such children through practicing as a Social Services child counselor.

I must admit that although I have always had a special interest in the welfare of children, I initially chose to put my Community College degree to use in electronics, a field where I worked for close onto ten years. However, as the years went by, I began to dream of working with children and helping them to grow into productive members of society. Finally, the realization that I was discontented with my career in electronics gave me the necessary impetus to pursue my desire.

Any decision to switch career paths in mid-life is easier said than done. And mine was no different! Indeed, I took the decision only after days and weeks of agonizing over whether it was practical to give up an established career and seek a fresh start in life. Ultimately, what helped me take the plunge was the mantra that "it's better late than never," along with the realization that determination, courage, and hard work was all that I needed to turn my dreams into reality.

Once the decision was taken, I went back to school at the ripe old age of 32 to earn the necessary qualifications that would enable me to work as a child counselor. Today, I am proud of the fact that I have managed to complete a 4-year course in two years and that I will have achieved a Bachelor of Arts degree in Human Services in June 2005. I am particularly proud of this because I was laid off my job in June 2004, causing quite a financial setback and doubts over whether I would be able to complete my education.