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When people ask how my children are, I often reply – “They are doing well. I have two off the payroll and one who will soon be finishing college.” They often comment that my husband and I are good parents and then I reply- “It takes a village and we are fortunate to be part of a great village.”

There is no way my husband and I could have raised our children without God and the support of family, friends, teachers and sometimes strangers who believed in the importance of education. Education is important especially when it comes to health.

Education creates opportunities for better health:¹

• An applicant with more education is more likely to be employed and land a job that provides health promoting benefits such as health insurance, paid leave, and retirement.
• Workers with more education tend to earn more money. The median wage for college graduates was more than twice that of high school dropouts and more than one and half times higher than that of a high school graduate.
• Families with higher incomes can more easily purchase healthy foods, have time to exercise regularly and pay for health services and transportation.

It is never too early to educate a child. You can read to a newborn. The earlier you to read to a child the more like that child will do well in school later on. It is never too late to go back to school. If you have wanted to go back to school – DO IT.

During this back to school season, remember that you are part of a village. You are there to listen. You are there to encourage. You are there to provide support.

^{1Why Education Matters to Health: Exploring the Causes.}