Money seems to be a very powerful thing. In today’s world, that’s all we ever talk about. On the news, with our friends, at work, what have you. The point is that it’s always the focal point in conversation.

Like most college students, I am poor. We have books to pay for, tuition, gas and school supplies to buy. We have a lot of things to pay for as young adults. So naturally, we complain about that every chance we get, because it’s easy to complain. It comes so naturally, and can even be conversation filler.

Pathetic right? As a way to fill conversation with others, we talk about how we are broke. But I don’t see it like that. We are at the point in our lives where we are supposed to be ‘poor.’ There is this idea in our heads that we don’t ever want to be poor, because it sucks. Well yes, of course it sucks, but it’s temporary. Eventually, our education will make us rich. I don’t mean rich as in wealthy, but rich as in, educated. An education goes a long way in today’s society. We should even be lucky to say we are in college.

In my opinion, I would rather have to skip out on a few activities with my friends when I don’t have money, than not go to school, and just work full time. I’m not saying that an education is the only thing that makes us rich, but I am saying that it really helps us get there.

I get it. Not everyone is meant to go to college, but they can get educated about something else that can make them rich. They can get educated about a life skill, or even about raising a family. Heck, they can get educated about mechanics, art, etc. The list is endless.

Here is the point: education is what makes us rich, not items, not the latest version of the iPhone, not even having the biggest friend group. Education is unique, and important to the growth of not only your future, but also everyone else’s. The more educated we are, no matter the subject, the farther we will go in life.

So next time you say, “I’m so poor” or “I literally have no money” stop and think about others. The people who cannot afford to get a higher education. The ones who just don’t know where to even begin. The ones who are raised in an environment where their families didn’t go to college. Because those people are the ones who are ‘poor.’

Be thankful for the education you are receiving, because one day you won’t have to worry about skipping out on things in life. Instead, you can say, “oh, I’ve already done that.”

Don’t take what you have for granted, because there are people out there who would kill to have your life.