I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to

Hear the words of Jimmy Smits, actor and advocate, whose voice has spoken both on the stage and for his people: “I am a firm believer in education and have worked very hard to tell young Latinos that they must go to college and that, if possible, they should pursue an advanced degree. I am convinced that education is the great equalizer.” These words do not rise from the lips of a scholar alone, but from one who has seen how doors of opportunity can be closed, and how learning can force those doors open. His statement is both a declaration of faith and a call to action for all who hunger for dignity and advancement.

For what is education but the ladder by which one climbs from the valley of limitation to the heights of possibility? In a world where wealth, race, and privilege divide men into ranks, education stands as the power that can bridge the gulf. Smits, speaking especially to young Latinos, reminds them that though history may burden them, though society may place obstacles in their path, the pursuit of knowledge can raise them to stand as equals among all. This belief, that education is the great equalizer, is one of the deepest truths of human progress.

History testifies to this. Consider Frederick Douglass, who was born into slavery, denied freedom, denied schooling, and told that learning would make him “unfit” for bondage. Yet he taught himself to read, he mastered words, and through the power of knowledge he liberated not only his own soul, but also became a voice for the liberation of millions. He proved, as Smits proclaims, that education can lift even the most oppressed to stand as equal to kings.

Smits himself, as a Latino in America, knew the barriers of stereotype and limited opportunity. His success was not only in talent and perseverance, but also in the recognition that he could inspire others to reach beyond what society told them was possible. By urging young Latinos to go to college, to pursue even advanced degrees, he sought to plant in them the same truth: that though the world may not grant equality by default, through education, one can seize it and make it real.

The equalizer lies not merely in the gaining of skills, but in the transformation of the mind. Education awakens confidence, dignity, and the ability to stand without fear before those who hold power. It erases the chains of ignorance, it equips the soul to reason, to question, to innovate. Where wealth can be lost and beauty fades, the wisdom gained through learning endures. Thus, education makes unequal men equal, not by removing differences, but by giving each the tools to shape his own destiny.

Yet, as Smits implies, the pursuit of education requires effort and sacrifice. To enter college, to seek higher learning, is to fight against financial strain, against doubt, against voices that whisper, “This is not for you.” But it is precisely in overcoming these barriers that equality is claimed. The struggle for degrees, for advancement, is not merely personal victory—it is generational victory. One educated child lifts an entire family; one educated family strengthens an entire community.

Therefore, O listener, take this wisdom as your guide: pursue education with all your strength, for it is the key that unlocks the chains of inequality. Do not settle for what is given; strive for what is possible. If you can, go further, pursue the higher degrees, for each step higher is a step toward greater influence, greater opportunity, and greater freedom. And if you are already educated, turn and lift others, as Smits has done, urging them to rise.

For as Jimmy Smits declared, education is not only a personal treasure—it is the great equalizer of society. It is the weapon of the powerless, the shield of the oppressed, the path of the dreamer, the inheritance of the poor. Cherish it, pursue it, defend it, and pass it on, for in it lies the hope of justice and the promise of a brighter tomorrow.