Final answer:
The first two years of college are essentially a liberal arts experience where students are exposed to a broad range of topics. This exposure expands their worldview and prepares them for specialization in their major. Education enhances self-examination and builds wisdom upon knowledge.
Step-by-step explanation:
Generally, the first two years of college are essentially a liberal arts experience. The student is exposed to a fairly broad range of topics, from mathematics and the physical sciences to history and literature, the social sciences, and music and art through introductory and survey-styled courses. It is in this period that the student's world view is, it is hoped, expanded. Memorization of raw data still occurs, but if the system works, the student now looks at a larger world. Then, when he or she begins the process of specialization, it is with a much broader perspective than might be otherwise.
This additional “cultural capital" can further enrich the life of the student, enhance his or her ability to work with experienced professionals, and build wisdom upon knowledge. Over two thousand years ago, Socrates said, "The unexamined life is not worth living. The real value of an edu-cation, then, is to enhance our skill at self-examination."