In many cases it seems logical and necessary to get an education to broaden your horizons and expand your knowledge of not only classroom education, but also the education of the world we live in. Education is the gateway to a positive future and a successful life. According to George Washington Carver, “Education is the key to opening the golden door of freedom.” Education is not a gift; it is a process that requires dedication and hard work to achieve the most positive outcome. Without education many things cannot be accomplished; and you may be missing many positive aspects of your life. A beneficial education has the power to do great things, but a wasted education could lead to destruction. A great example of a beneficial and beneficial education would be that of Frederick Douglass, who struggled through extreme adversity but had the mentality to stop at nothing in order to obtain an education. In the early stages of his life, he discovered how a slave gains freedom and claimed that this occurs through education itself. Once the initial flame was lit, Douglass refused to stop learning, and even through the struggle, he knew he would benefit from it. He said: “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.” He went so far as to take bread from his master's house so he could exchange it for a short lesson in writing or A, B, C from the white boys in town. For Douglass, education was considered the very thing that could free him from slavery and set him free. Douglass not only achieved his goals, but created a doorway for other slaves to take a stand and build their own confidence in freeing themselves. Douglass earned his freedom and deserved it. Douglass struggled with separation, hunger... middle of paper... students struggled with issues due to racism, gang violence, etc. Their resources for knowledge were also very different, as Douglass learned from the white kids, and the students learned from their teacher, Mrs. G. Frederick Douglass's goal was to gain knowledge for freedom while the main goal of the students was to graduate from high school and lead successful lives. The power that can come from earning an education can be so fulfilling and beneficial that it has a lasting impact on generations to follow. Regardless of how Douglass and the students received their education, they both left an impact and achieved their goals. Frederick Douglass found his freedom and the students overcame their difficulties in school. Through these two examples, education has been shown to be something of a miracle and something that is earned, not given.