Sunday, November 9, 2008

It's true

The rumor is true, next semester I will be at Hesston College in Kansas. Please do not miss understand, Bluffton University is a wonderful University. In a nut shell, I am transferring because I can get my associates degree at Hesston (Bluffton does not offer an associates degree program).

Why would I want to have my associates degree and not my bachelors? Well, I do not expect everyone to understand, but this is the real reason. My major is Youth Ministries; however, I do not believe that I will be in a paid position in this area. It does not mean that I believe that people who are paid youth ministers or paid by youth organizations are wrong or any such thing; I simply do not believe that is the path I am to travel down. I believe that I can do what I feel called to do with my two year associates degree just as easily as I could with a four year bachelors degree. Since I probably will not be making money in the field of youth ministry it is hard to justify spending four years in college and accumulating a lot of debt when I can finish in two years. I will then have half of the debt.

What I feel called to do right now is to work in a youth center. I will work as a waitress, secretary, or whatever I have to work as to live; however, my joy will be serving others when I am not working. Since I will have half of the debt it will be easier to serve because I wont be held back by all of the debt.

My friends here at Bluffton are sad to see me go, yet they all have listened and talked with me about it and agree that transferring out to Hesston is the right thing to do. They have helped me a lot, discussing both sides of the issue with me and agreeing that I am not dumb for not desiring to make money in my major. My family, friends, mom, and dad have also listened and discussed my transfer with me. While not everybody thinks that going to college with a major that I do not want to make money in is the smartest thing (there really is not anything else I can even imagine majoring in), most have encouraged me and supported me agreeing that life is so much more than money.

In just a few days more than a month I will pack up and leave Bluffton with only a very small chance of ever returning as a student (only about a 7% chance). In January I will head out to Kansas to make new friends, learn the rhythm of a new campus, and start classes.

Many of you will remember the time I spent praying over Bluffton and making sure that this is the place I was suppose to come; let me add that I still believe with all of my heart that I was suppose to be here for this semester. Why? I am not completely sure right now, and may never know; maybe I was suppose to take a certain class, have a certain conversation, talk to a certain professor, meet the amazing friends that I have here, have some certain adventure or something else...maybe I'll know someday, but maybe not. Either way, I am so glad that I am here at Bluffton for this semester.

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Wow! Quite a change, and I think, a very good decision. I, too, only have my associates degree, and it has served me more than well in my chosen career path. I am proud of you and what you do! AND you're that much closer to Colorado...maybe Rachel and I can road trip it out there to see you!!! It's just about seven hours drive! :-)

Brooke said...

hey, i was jsut talking to jon and realised a side note i never mentioned. I'm transfering in the middle of the year only because hesston is a 2 year college and if i did not transfer now it'd be hard to finish in 2 years. I was originally hopeing to finish out the year here, but it didnt work out that way.

Julie said...

dad and I are excited for you!!

Anonymous said...

Hey, I just read your November post on your blog! The last paragraph reminded me of Hebrews 11:39 (which makes more sense if you read the entire chapter). You went to Bluffton because you knew that is where God wanted you. However, having been there for only a semester, you don't know why God wanted you there, but you are glad you went there ... Read Moreanyways because even though you don't know why, you still knew. And, you may never know (sorta like the people not seeing all their promises fulfilled during their lifetime as Hebrews 11:39 talks about). Yeah, it just reminded me of that.