A Cuban who emigrated to the United States has captured attention on TikTok with a stark critique of the island's educational system. In a video shared by user @gabrielalcantara1104, the Cuban expat boldly stated that "studying in Cuba is pointless" and that becoming a "graduate of rafting" was the best decision of his life.
"When I was around 15, all my friends dreamed of becoming engineers, doctors, or astronauts. I just wanted to be a rafter," the young man recounted, reflecting on his years living on the island.
The Cuban explained that many of his former schoolmates ended up with university degrees but were living under poor conditions.
"After ten or fifteen years, I realized that all the engineers and doctors looked old in Cuba, toothless, wrinkled, and hopeless," he observed.
He shared that during his teenage years, he faced several legal battles in Cuba until he managed to emigrate to the United States at 19. There, he claims to have "succeeded" and found happiness.
"Why would I study in Cuba if even good surgeons have to raise pigs in the backyard to afford shoes?" he questioned.
The young man criticized the education system in a country where "money is worthless" and professionals live worse off than those in the informal economy. "The only school that works in Cuba is the rafting school," he stated with a laugh.
With a reflective tone, he concluded his message by saying that true learning begins with common sense: "The first study is born here in the head. Not in books. With common sense and faith in oneself, you succeed."
The video has sparked mixed reactions on social media: while some users supported his words and praised him for moving forward, others defended the value of education even in challenging circumstances.
Understanding the Cuban Educational System and Emigration
What criticism did the Cuban expat make about the education system in Cuba?
The Cuban expat criticized the education system for being ineffective, claiming that studying in Cuba is pointless as it does not translate into prosperity, even for professionals like engineers and doctors.
What did the Cuban expat mean by "graduating from the rafting school"?
"Graduating from the rafting school" is a metaphor used by the expat to express that leaving Cuba by raft, despite the risks, was more beneficial to his future than pursuing traditional education on the island.
How did people react to the expat's TikTok video?
The video received mixed reactions, with some individuals supporting the expat's perspective and congratulating him for his success, while others defended the importance of education even in difficult circumstances.