e... that IS the question.
It's kind of a controversial issue, so I've discovered.
I graduated from high school 8 years ago. I didn't go to college. Not necessarily because I thought it was bad to go to college. Because I thought I didn't have any reason to go to college.
But, I've been thinking lately about college. I'm not considering going to college. I'm just considering taking some classes. Maybe online, maybe clepping... something.
And I have to say the thought of studying to learn something new, and the idea of taking a class and working hard for a passing grade, and eventually (maybe) earning a degree... is rather exhilerating!
I was talking with a friend of my mom's the other day. She's a "career-woman" in the sense that she went to college, has a degree, works almost full-time. She's great at what she does. She's married now and has a little girl, and I think that she would love to be at home with her daughter all of the time. And some day, I'm sure she will. But, at one point in her life she was not married, supporting herself, and being a wonderful example in the community, a blessing and a help to a lot of people. Because of the college degree that she acquired.
She told me: "College isn't for everyone. But, I'm always in favor of education." That brought a whole new perspective for me.
Why should we ever stop learning? I'm not saying everyone should take a college course. I'm saying, let's not let graduating from high school stop us from learning.
As long as it is in my power to do so... I want to keep learning. Even if all I do is read something in the encyclopedia every week. Get interested in a subject. Check out some books at the library. Learn something.
The REAL question should be: "what should I learn first?"
Tuesday, June 12, 2007
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14 comments:
Hi, I followed your link here from your comment in the Homeliving Helper blog. I just wanted to say hello, and check to make sure you don't mind if I start reading your blog. I love the pink dress you posted a few posts down. It's really lovely.
I do have some comments about your college question, if the input of a stranger can help at all.
I went to college directly out of high school seven years ago, and I finished my degree. I have a ba in English Lit. While I was there, I thought I wanted to be a professor, but after the four years it took to finish my undergraduate study, I found out that that was not the career for me. Too political, etc.
I also met my husband while I was in college, and we got married right after we graduated. I became a full time homemaker, though I also work part-time sometimes too. So, from someone who has what is essentially a not-so-very-useful degree and has never actually had a job that uses that degree, I can say that I never regret going to college. I may not technically use my degree, but I use it in a practical sense every day, using spoken and written communication skills I learned there. And it was very enjoyable.
But I will say that I do regret not thinking through my course of study more, and not waiting till I knew myself better as a person to know what I'd want to study.
Not sure if that is helpful or anything, but I know it can be fun to get other opinions on a subject.
-Beth
Nice to meet you Bethany!
I certainly don't mind if you read my blog! That's what it's there for... to be read!
I appreciate your input on the college subject. I have to say that I don't object to college right out of high school and I'm sorry if I sounded that way.
I didn't do college right after high school, but that doesn't mean I think it is wrong. I have friends that went to college, got degrees, and (like you) married right away and have never really used their degrees.
Does that mean that their time in college was a waste of time? I don't think so. Our lives aren't over yet. We don't know when that college degree might come in useful. Or it might be useful in everyday life.
This is a long reply... :-)
Anyway, nice to meet you!
I think that one should study with a goal in mind. I'm not really a big fan of the "career student" who just loves to learn but has no idea what they want to do with it. If you believe that getting further education will advance what you want to become in life, then go for it. From a continueing career perspective, getting an education can enable you to do more and become better at what you do for a living. As a computer tech, I am always studying new technologies, researching product, etc. to advance what I do and provide a better service to my customer.
From a life perspective, once again I think that one should do all they can to pursue their goals. If your goal is to be an overcoming Son of God, then I think your path of learning should be focused on Him. What should you learn first? Learn all you can to further your relationship with Him.
I remember Barak saying once that he wished that he had spent more time in God's word and getting to know the Lord prior to getting married. Now that I am married and have two kids I find myself thinking the same thing. Life certainly does not become any less busy! So I would encourage you to seek God with your whole hearth while you are yet single and can commit yourself to Him.
You should learn about our Judicial system ;) that will take you a long time!!! Karen is learning Greek. Maybe you could do something that will apply to the Bible.
Otherwise do something that interests you, in otherwords not Math :)
College isn't for everyone. But, I'm always in favor of education.
That's a great quote and sums up my position exactly.
Good thoughts, Becca. :) While I'm not (and don't plan to be) a "career student", I do think that there is value in learning whether or not there is not a direct, focused, specific (career-oriented) goal in mind. My two years of college classes have required me to mull over subjects and ideas that never have occurred to me on my own, and that has been a good thing, I think. Learning to think carefully and sometimes critically is so, so valuable. Besides, you get to discover so many intriguing subjects!
Someday, I'd like to homeschool my children, and I'd like to think that the classes I'm taking now--in a wide variety of subjects, not all related to what I'd like to "do" with my life--are helping to broaden what I understand and enjoy, so that I can excel at teaching them. And, like you said, our lives aren't over yet. :) If God places in us a desire to learn and examine the world He has created and the thoughts and ideas which fill it, acquiring that understanding is a worthwhile pursuit. No, college isn't for everyone. But if that's the path He has led you to in order to continue that pursuit...I would venture to say that it is a good thing.
Good thoughts, EVERYBODY! Wow. I love it when we get a conversationg going here... :-)
I was not interested in taking college classes or furthering my education, mostly just because I had no idea what I'd want to study. It would have been a pretty aimless space of time from that perspective. In all honesty, I just figured I was going to get married someday and was basically waiting around for that to happen - I didn't figure I needed further education if I was just going to stay home and take care of a family.
It wasn't until a couple of years later that I knew I needed to DO something constructive, worthwhile.
I could probably spend a while talking about all the why's of my decision but basically I wanted to learn how to do something that would be beneficial not only to me, but something I could use as a ministry to others. I'd been interested in hair design out of high school but never felt much enthusiasm to pursue it. This time was different. I needed something to do, something to focus my energy into and spend my time constructively.
Bottom line: We need to do all as unto the Lord and be seeking His will in whatever we do. Just be willing to do what He wants - He may open doors you never thought of! He may call you to use the skills you already have in a greater capacity, or teach you something new.
So there's two cents from me...
I was talking about just finishing high school and what my perspective was at that time.
I have been thinking about your post, Rebecca. I am so comforted by the double meaning of “Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.” (Ps. 37:4). When we delight ourselves in the Lord, first He plants desires in our hearts, (gives us the desires), then He gives us the thing we desire, that is in accordance with what He planted. Isn’t God lovely?
How does this relate to college? It relates in that, if you desire to learn, if you desire to study and seek out, perhaps it is because the Lord has given you that desire in your heart, as you have delighted yourself in Him all these years. Proverbs 25:2 says, “It is the glory of God to conceal a thing: but the honour of kings is to search out a matter.” There is honour in searching out, in learning the things the Lord leads you to study. I have been amazed, time and again, at how God uses our learning about horses, computers, jobs, the things Rachel experiences at college, to teach us about the Kingdom of God, to expose the things in us that need changing, and to position us to reach out to others with the principles of the Kingdom.
Whether therefore ye eat, or drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory of God. 1 Cor 10:31 I trust Him to lead you in His perfect will for your life. Don’t be afraid to step out into the thing you believe He is saying, even in the face of questions and doubts. He is well able to amend your path.
Thanks so much, Aunt Alice.
If you are feeling "adrift" DON'T go to college, or even "take classes" hoping to find dirrection there. You'll end up just as "lost" when you're done with your studies, and you'll be out of pocket to boot.
Keep this in mind: many of todays most influential people flunked out of JUNIOR COLLEGE. Two such people that come to mind are Bill Gates and Rush Limbaugh, the heads of multi-billion dollar companies that they built up from litterally nothing. People like this stand radically defiant in the face of "conventional wisdom" and dispove the agenda pushed mandate of "if you want to get ahead in life, you HAVE to go to college."
I believe that God has placed in each and every one of us a special talent. And even if we can't say "Oh, I know what it is" I believe that it is probly something that we already like to do, and that we do as much of as possible. For example, you work as a computer programer, but your passion is not in it. It's just a job. You're good at it, but you abhore the thought crunching keys for the next 25 years. But whenever you come home at night, all you can ever think about is folding and painting paper napkins. That's your passion. That's what you should be pursuing. What ever you end up doing in life, you should LOVE doing it. And if you are pursing God's Talent, then what ever it is, will coincide with every aspect of your life, as long as you are walking with Christ. It won't conflict with mairage, motherhood, fatherhood, Godly friendships, fellowship.
The first thing that we have to do is HONESTLY ask ourselves: what do I want to do in life? Then we ask: God, what do you want me to do in life? And if our will has to come into subjugation to Christ's (and more often then naught, it does), then we strive for that high calling.
that's my four cents. did I exceed the maximum input requirements?
Hi there! I've enjoyed reading your blog after hopping over from your comment on YLCF. This is an incredibly relevant topic to me and many other young women. I had always planned on going to college. Not because my family, made it a requirement or even encouraged it very much, but because I felt that God was calling me to be a nurse. I DID have something very specific I felt called to learn about. As God continues leading though, it doesn't appear that I will be getting my degree in nursing. But as you say! That doesn't mean that after highschool I should quit learning! My interest in medical things is still very much alive, and I'm excited to see how God will use it as I learn more on or off the college campus. Thanks for your thoughts on this! I find it disturbing to see the number of people who attend college trying to find their niche' and meanwhile bury themselves in debt. Especially for women, education can be found elsewhere. God bless!
Don't worry, incomplete I'm not "feeling adrift" and planning to go to college to find a niche. I'm just saying that I want to learn something while I have time. :-)
I agree with you completely, kaylene There's no point in going to college if you have no idea why you're going and you're still looking for direction. College for women is still a relevantly new development. It wasn't many years ago that women didn't go to college.
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