A privilege is a special right, advantage, or immunity granted or available only to a particular person or group of people. Here are four privileges that are important to me that I used to take for granted:

1. Education is a privilege, not a right.

Not everybody in the world has access to the same level of education that some of us do, if any at all. In our world, you can become literally anything that you want.

You just have to work hard, study hard, and eventually, it all pays off. For a lot of other people from different worlds, this is not the case. They may aspire to become a doctor, lawyer, teacher, or a business entrepreneur, but it is highly unlikely that they will ever be given these opportunities. We have the right to free education for 12 years of our lives then you have the possibility of attending a university.

2. Family and friends are privileges.

It is a privilege to grow up with married parents. I know plenty of people including some of my friends that grew up with divorced parents. In fact, my older brother and older sister have a different dad than I do. I see how difficult it is to go back and forth to houses, spending every other holiday with mom or dad or having to split the holiday.

The list goes on, but it is such a privilege that both of my parents are together and raising me in the same household together. Things are much easier on my little brother and I. We do not have to go from house to house, but my heart aches for those who do not have this privilege.

Friends that stay around and are loyal to you is a very big privilege. REAL friends are hard to find. I have gone through hell and back with some people to realize that they are not meant to be in my life. It is important to find those certain friends that do not lie to you, do not go behind your back, and do not start drama. It is also a privilege to even have a friend(s) like that.

3. Having a telephone or technology is a privilege.

Most of the generation has grown up with technology or a phone. Today children are being given devices at earlier and earlier ages, as parents feel the pressure to stay connected throughout the day with their children.

Also, many of their child’s friends have smartphones and tablets, and chances are good that at least one friend has his or her own laptop computer. Not all parents have enough money or are capable enough to let their child have technology or a phone. These children now in our generation take this for granted and do not realize that this is a privilege.

4. Drinking healthy water and nutritious foods.

Most of us have access to water and food, but others do not. About 1.8 billion people worldwide lack access to clean water. Every 21 seconds, a water-related illness kills a child. In far too many cases, water systems have been attacked, damaged, or left in disrepair to the point of collapse. When children have no safe water to drink, and when health systems are left in ruins, malnutrition and potentially fatal diseases will come. So, it is a privilege to have water and food.

I used to not think about any of this stuff, but when I got my first phone my parents sat me down to tell me that it is a privilege. I soon learned when I entered my way into college that education is not free and not a lot of people can afford a university's tuition. None of these things ever crossed my mind because I took them all for granted. Now, I do not; I am always thinking and realizing that things in life do not come free. Everything we have is a privilege because some people do not have what most of us have.