Well Educated Person

Per Merriam Webster’s Dictionary, a literate person is one who can read and write. Although this definition is valid and true, maybe the better definition comes from the Oxford dictionary. This definition states that the literate person is one who has competence or knowledge in a specified area. Whereas the literate and well-educated person of the middle ages was a person who could read and write, the twenty-first century student knows that these two skills alone are not the only ones required of the successful. Take for instance, the popularity of the computer. Now embedded into the simplest of things, such as ovens, washing machines, and even children’s toys, the modern graduate would not be able to find a job in any field without the ability to work with

The twenty-first century, educated person is one who is able to communicate, analyze, solve problems that arise, and is able to work effectively with those around them. Along with these timeless skills, the well-accomplished graduate must also be able to live and thrive in a changing society, expect and welcome new ideas, and as previously mentioned, have working knowledge of modern technology.

The first, and one of the most important, characteristic a well-educated person exhibits is good communication skills when writing, speaking, and listening. According to Some Tests of a Well-Educated Person, “Only through the medium of communication are we able to acquire the understanding of our rich cultural heritage so essential for the development of the individual.” To be educated means to be able to communicate well; with these skills, a broader, deeper connection with the world and the humans that inhabit it comes. In an article written by Mike Royko for the Chicago Tribune, a college graduate sends in a letter exclaiming, “It seem easy when you are young.” This discouraged individual then goes on to describe his frustration and exasperation that he