Educated

This book tells the story of Tara, a girl born in the mountainous region of Idaho, USA. Growing up in a junkyard, she rewrote her life through education.

Through continuous learning, she broke free from the scars and limitations of her upbringing, finding redemption and liberation through reflecting on her past.

Before reading this book, I thought it was a fictional story by the author, but I was surprised to learn that it was her own personal experience. I was deeply moved by Tara's spirit after finishing it.

Tara had never set foot in a school before the age of 17, and she grew up in an extreme family environment that felt like a cage:

Her father had strong and ignorant beliefs, her mother was weak and submissive, and her brother Shawn subjected her to continuous violence and bullying. However, despite her fear and breakdown, she chose to escape with a resilient heart. Breaking free from the constraints of reality, she went from Harvard University to a Ph.D. in history. With an academic achievement, she shone brightly among the crowd, ultimately escaping from her tragic family and leaving behind a life without autonomy, like a free bird flying towards her own mountain.

I cannot imagine what my life would have been like if I had been born into such a family. Perhaps I would have given up on myself long ago. If I had read this book in middle school, I believe I would have strived for better and eventually been able to attend a good university.

I used to think that my own family background was not very good, but when I read about Tara's family in the book, I realized that my family story is relatively small.

Fate gave Tara a low starting point, but she phoenix-like rose from her own efforts. Although her story may not be as spectacular and inspiring, education opened the door to a new world for her, giving her a new life and reconciliation with her original family.

Tara's journey is a testament to the transformative power of education. Despite the challenging circumstances she faced, she recognized the potential within herself and seized the opportunity to pursue knowledge. Her determination and resilience allowed her to break free from the limitations imposed on her and transcend her upbringing.

Through education, Tara not only gained knowledge but also developed critical thinking skills, empathy, and a broader perspective of the world. Education became her gateway to liberation, offering her a chance to redefine her identity and create a life of her own choosing. It enabled her to challenge the beliefs and values instilled in her from a young age and embrace a new way of understanding the world.

Tara's story is a testament to the transformative power of education, the resilience of the human spirit, and the potential for personal growth and liberation. It inspires us to pursue knowledge, overcome obstacles, and strive for a life of upward mobility, ultimately urging us to spread our wings and soar towards the mountains in our own hearts.

Notable Quotes:

1. "The past was a ghost, insubstantial, without influence. Only the future had weight."

2. "To earn a Ph.D., I had to do something original. In other words, after five years of reading history, it was time to write some."

3. "And yet I understood something—something I had always understood, if only unconsciously. I understood that it was his happiness I was being asked to renounce, not the humiliations. I understood that these humiliations were not just a temporary effect: they were the point, the object, the whole purpose of the exercise."

4. "You can call it many things—transformation, metamorphosis, falsity, betrayal. I call it an education."

For ordinary people like us who aspire to achieve a life of upward mobility, we may face the "three lacks": lack of resources, lack of background, and lack of connections. However, education is the most equitable and low-cost opportunity to change our lives. "You Should Fly Like a Bird Towards Your Mountain."

I hope both you and I can maintain lifelong learning, read diligently, and overcome the mountains in our hearts.