Whenever I go out to do lawns with Dad, there is ample time while mowing to think about many things. Yesterday one of the many things I thought about, (alongside publishing one of my books, singing "You're never fully dressed without a smile" to make Matthew laugh, and gathering leftover Christmas Tree clippings for Mama to decorate with) was why I don't think college is the best place for me to go when I graduate. Now, I realize that Meredith has done many posts on this sort of thing, and since she has had much more experience in this area, each will probably eclipse what I will write. Nevertheless, this is more for myself to remind me why I am looking forward to something different.
First off, I want to clear something up. It is the misunderstood fact that "Schooling" is not necessarily "Education". Since that is stated, I find it funny that people refer to college as "Higher Education". Dad has told me many stories that leave me with the impression that many kids at college are not there to be "educated". They are there to get more "schooling" with education as a hopeful by-product, but that is where it ends. (Though there are some who go with the best intentions and get something out of it I'm sure.) My idea of "Higher Education" is that we should never stop learning. When we think we have learned all there is to learn in life, then we had better review some things awfully quick, because that would be puffed up pride.
Now, I am not saying that everyone who goes to college is disobeying God. He works in all our lives differently, but for me, I must look at the vision God has given me for my life.
My idea of the most fulfilling "career" I could have as a woman is that of being a helpmeet, homemaker, and mother. That is what I hope and pray the Lord has called me to. And that is what all the training I have had so far is leading me up to. In fact, you can say that I am way ahead of all these public schooled kids in the fact that I am getting my career-training while I am doing "school". This is in fact, my 17 year of being trained to be a homemaker! :) Okay. That being said, what business have I to go train at some college away from home to be a lawyer? How will I use that in my future life? To diplomatically break up fights between my children? Okay, how about training to be a brain surgeon? Ummm.... sorry to disappoint you, but I think that unless all my children had awful and unusual brain problems (which is very unlikely) that would be something I would shelf pretty quickly.
Understand, I don't think that taking classes in a particular area is bad. Once I graduate I am looking at taking an online class to become a Certified Family Herbalist. Which will be really useful in my future home. But the best education I can get for my "career" is where I am right now. In my home, operating a household with my mother, caring for my elderly grandmother, learning to be helpmeet by practicing on Dad in our business.... and the list goes on.
When someone wants to learn a language the most efficient way, they go to that country, and immerse themselves in the culture so that they are forced to speak the language to survive! That is what I see I am doing right now. I am living in my future workplace. I have the advantage of watching and helping Mama care for sick children, and learning what is okay, and what needs to be watched or rushed to the emergency room! ;) That is something that no amount of college could supply for me. I couldn't read about it in a doctor class and be good at discerning how sick a child really was until I had a sick child.
I am learning how to run a household, and how to keep a home tidy and cheerful. I know many housekeeping things that make a home peaceful, like playing music quietly in the background when your Dad comes home, and always using a tablecloth and dinnertime. These are things that I would not come accross while eating cafeteria food at college! So anyway, I guess all this is to say that I don't think God would think it good stewardship for me, at least, to go to college and train for something that I will put away later, when I could have been using those years to continue in hands-on practice at what I will most likely be when I grow up.
(And anyone who wonders "What if she doesn't get married and needs to work?" my answer is first that I will trust God to have a wonderful plan and support me through it whatever it is, and then secondly, this is why I never stop learning and practicing with my talents. There are many, many things I could do at home and make profit even if I didn't marry!) -Rachel
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