In my house I have a wall for my collection of trophies. No, I am not a sportsman, and the trophies to which I refer are not plastic cups or statues and gilded metal. I'm actually more of a scholar, and the trophies that I expose on my wall are diplomas for courses that I did.

It may seem strange that I say now, but the fact of having put my diplomas on the wall yielded me, and still yield far more criticism than praise. Invariably I am asked for what reason I put my diplomas on the wall. At these times I usually explain that they are my trophies, which besides being complete documents certifying that a particular course and that I am professionally qualified to perform some activity, they still represent great personal achievements, because each of them cost me sleepless nights and hours of study, and therefore consider them trophies.

Diploma on the wall! © Stocksnapper

Oddly, most of the time, instead of receiving a compliment, I usually receive a complaint, politely of course indirect. Right now people tend to tell me things like: "A diploma is just a piece of paper, what matters is what we know!" "But why do not you put a picture of his graduation in that frame, rather than your diploma? "" That institution where you graduated is not the best, even good is one where my boyfriend is going to study. " Rare are the times I hear something like, "Cool!" "Congratulations" or "Yeah man!".

I am asking myself: If instead of degrees, I had shelves with trophies soccer championships, would be those so criticized? Something tells me no.

As much as the polished, indirect, polite and numerous critics of my trophies, try to convince me that my attitude to expose my diplomas, a practice that is antiquated and unnecessary. I'd still rather run away from this common sense, after many courses costing as much or more than the value of a car 0 km, and when we bought such a car, we are keen to show everyone, but the diploma, prefer to leave it stored in a folder drawer in the bedroom closet. It's amazing how we can deny a pat on the back of an academic and applaud with enthusiasm and recognizing the merit of a football player, which marks the winning goal in the last game of the championship, this tournament is composed of not more than several dozen of matches, played over a few months, and with this player, a whole team on your side, and a whole structure of financial, technical, physical, medical and psychological care available to them. Already one who is dedicated to studies with demerit is easily seen, even for many times, has abdicated his leisure time aggregate your studies at the end of a hard day of work and reduced their household budget to the detriment of their education costs . Its securities are not seen as trophies, even if they have been won throughout the study day, practiced for about five years of his life without any financial support, technical, medical or psychological placed at their disposal, so little time in helping the evaluation days.

It is through these and other factors all that and much appreciate my diplomas, and give them a prominent place in my life. After all, they also represent all the sacrifice and commitment I dedicated to my studies. And the more I agree, that the value of the professional is more associated with their knowledge and competence than the securities it owns. I am not a signatory to the idea that a diploma should be considered only one piece of paper, even if it's a bad professional diploma. Confirming this, it would deny the existence of a larger symbolism, it would be like saying a Catholic, for example, that a crucifix is just a piece of wood, or that the host is a simple piece of bread, a Christian, that bible is a book any; a patriot, that his flag is just a piece of cloth, or even a couple, your marriage certificate is a mere piece of paper.

Perhaps it is not our culture to value knowledge, but events. Maybe get a good picture has become more important than having a good content. Perhaps the celebrations have become more important than what is being celebrated. I do not say that the reverse is correct but that the balance would be ideal. That study was valued as much as the sport, which also acts could be considered trophies, and they were not cause for alarm and criticism when they were arranged in a wall.

My name is Carlos Magaldi, and in my opinion, simple piece of paper is what they use to wrap half a dozen eggs at the corner grocery store, which is framed on my wall, is called diploma.

About Carlos Eduardo : Carlos Magaldi has a degree in Computer Science, Post Graduate in Public Finance and currently attends the College of Economic Sciences, is interested in politics, economics and human relations in general. Likes to read good books and watching good films. He is married and so continual search for the personal and professional development through the accumulation of knowledge.

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