How can education make a difference?

Education specifically doesn't make a difference, but the acquisition of knowledge does (which is the main reason for education). Whatever subject you study, you'll find practical applications. If you study history, you'll learn something about humans (because humans never change and it's only by studying the past that you learn not to repeat the mistakes of the past). If you study science or mathematics, there are obvious practical solutions, also medicine, law, or a foreign language. If you learn English, that's the key to knowledge acquisition.

I didn't learn much in school but I've learned a lot from the great writers. My life would be infinitely poorer without self-education.