Two weeks ago, while waiting at the bus station, an older man with long dreadlocks (who seemed like he might be homeless) approached me. "Are you a student?" he asked. I was caught a little off guard. I hesitantly answered his questions, all the while waiting for him to ask me for money. But it never happened!
The man was very intelligent and up-to-date on current affairs. In fact it was quite a pleasure talking to him once I got over my initial reservations. As we talked I found out he went to the library every day and used the internet to read up on the news and current happenings. He said one of his biggest regrets was not being able to afford an education.
My bus arrived. I said goodbye and wished him good luck. Then a thought struck me. I turned around and said, "Google Open Source Learning. Many universites are offering their courses online at no charge." He grinned and said, "Really?" I repeated it and he said he would surely do that.
A few moments later I was sitting on the bus smiling at how so many of us take going to school for granted and don't appreciate it. Yet, here was this man actively seeking knowledge and absorbing anything and everything he could get his hands on.
It was quite a lesson to me!
