Freedom and Education

"The really important kind of freedom involves attention and awareness and discipline, and being able to truly to care about other people and to sacrifice for them over and over (...) That is real freedom. That is being educated, and understanding how to think." ( Wallace page7)
Growing up in a society where being educated is --for many-- having a college education -- associate or bachelor degree, a master... Where being successful means having a good job, making good money, and sometimes having a great family. I have never come to realize, until now, that you can have the highest degree ever existed, you can go to the most prestigious college, and can still be held prisoner just because you do not understand "how to think" and how to react to the daily-life challenges.
Often enough in our lives, we come across a lot of unexpected challenges: you cannot find a five- page homework that you have just typed last night or you just discovered that your wallet has been stolen and all you belongings (debit/credit card, driver license, school ID) are in it, or you break your arm a week before finals... Should you go nuts on the help-desk person and yield at him? Should you just give up on everything and admit to fail the class?
Well, In my opinion, understanding how to think does not mean being able to read and analyze a Shakespeare play, a book, a parable or a text... And less, having the capacity to judge or criticize. However, it means being able to stay calm and control yourself when come difficult situations. It means being able to care for others in a society where everyone is trying to find the easy way out. It means having the capacity not to blame others when you are in fault; you are late at work, don't blame the slow drivers, or your roommate because he stayed up late watching TV last night. It means giving a hand to those who are desperate. It means respecting others beliefs and be "less arrogant"
How to handle challenges, making the right decisions during difficult times are not being taught in any college. With that being said, Wallace is mostly telling us-- future college graduates-- a well-prepared college student is not the one with a double major or the one who was having all A's. However, it is the one well-prepared to affront challenges and the daily- witticisms.