Once you graduate, you are headed to college, right? Seems like most people take it for granted. Sure it can be expensive, but you can always apply for scholarships. And what about needing a vehicle to get around between campus, the grocery store, and home? Where will this money come from? Parents, perhaps? Or loans? These details need to be figured out.
Or do they? Certainly, if you plan to go to college the details need to be figured out. But let me introduce an incredible idea to you:
Maybe you don’t need to go to college.
Wow, pretty far out and not too popular, right?! What would make me suggest such a controversial idea? A number of things: Education, Safety, and Self Government.
I get the impression that “going to college” has become ingrained in the American people. Similarly to running after you walk, college seems to automatically come after graduating from high school.
I met a lady not too long ago and she mentioned that her daughter had gone back to college. When I asked what she was taking, the mother gave me a blank stare and said she really didn’t know. It was curious to me that, although the mother knew her daughter had one back to college, she didn’t know what she was pursuing. To me that is rather sad.
College strikes me as a bit of an excuse not to embrace and pursue the life that God created you for! It has been used as a way to postpone working in the real world. So please, before you follow the average person and sign up for college, do consider these things:
Education
Perhaps your entire goal in going to college is to be educated and then graduate certified in a specific vocation. Excellent. You have a clear-cut goal and you know what you are working towards. Phenomenal! You are already one of a rare breed! I completely get that in order to become a contractor, chiropractor, etc that you must complete a college education.
But before you commit to loans or colleges, seek counsel from your parents and ask God what He would have you do. College is a huge step, and it would be foolish to jump in blindly. Perhaps you could apprentice at the type of job that you are considering as your major. Never underestimate the power of real-life experience.
It would be a pity to take out student loans and spend four years of your life studying to become an accountant only to graduate and abandon your initial “calling”. An acquaintance growing up went through that. What a price to pay to realize what you don’t want to do! Again, let me just remind you to seek God and to seek counsel. This might be one of the largest decisions you will make in your life. Make sure that it draws you closer to whom God has called to be.
And rest assured, God wants to direct your steps! But you must seek Him! He’s got a remarkable plan all lined up for you! Don’t rush out into life seeking to be college-bound just as soon as you graduate to be like everyone else. God has an intricate, beautiful story planned for you, but it is up to you to discover it and pursue it!
Safety
College introduces many, many influences and distractions. There are some more conservative colleges that I considered better choices for a time, but the truth of the matter is that one must always be on guard. New environments where you are away from family and friends can put you at a higher risk to forget the principles and values that have been ingrained in you.
But with this being said, if you are already used to the public school environment, college shouldn’t come as quite the culture shock that it would seem to those who have been home-schooled.
Remember to maintain your focus on God! Do not allow distractions, either large or small, to rob Him of His importance to you!
Self Government
Truth be told, I’ve never been to college. There are so many opportunities for ladies outside of it that I’ve never felt the need. But just because I’ve never felt the call to go to college does not mean that I haven’t continued learning and training both through self-education and through help from others.
Zig Ziglar once said, “If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn, no one can stop you.”
You are not limited by what you can learn outside of college. Before you automatically sign up for college, consider other options. Perhaps working for a family business, starting your own venture or acting as an apprentice.
Interestingly enough, as far as I can recall, each of the people I knew growing up have gone to college, except for two. About half of them have used their schooling, whereas the other half have abandoned their area of training. I am all for changing vocations or jobs when you believe that God is calling you into something else, but be sure that you seek God and counsel from your authorities before you begin so that you can get the most value from your teaching. Just because college is an assumed next step after high school graduation does not mean that the same is true for you. College is not for everyone just as the military is not for everyone.
Did you know that according to Google, 65.9% of the population in the US goes to college? 0.4% are in the military. I had no idea! But I must say, in general, I am far more impressed by the US military than by the US college student.
Until Next Time!
Hope.
PS. You might enjoy this post about creating a schedule to make sure time is well spent: https://www.theamericanlady.com/2016/10/10/whats-your-plan/