Feeds:Monday, First Week
"It smells like fake banana pudding? That's a whole lot better than dead mouse." - Kate, 3/31
Gotta change the colour scheme. "Prom Queen" by Value Pac is a good song. Most songs by Value Pac are good, actually. But anyway. I was going to respond to Amanda, but I just finished reading Chekhov's The Seagull.... yeah. If you've read it, you know what I mean. Or maybe it doesn't do that to everyone. Maybe it's just because I know Nina. But that can be dealt with later. To Amanda:
Dear Amanda:
I hope you can forgive me for airing this in such a public manner, secluded as it is here. I am doing it for two reasons: So that I think just a little bit harder about what I'm saying, and therefore am fairer to you, and because I know I'd write about it here anyway, and fear that seperating my counsel to you from my extrospection on matters might cause me to be overly patronizing in the former and bitter in the latter. I don't have a problem with hypocrisy, but that'd just be sucky of me, I think we both agree. So then, my replies....
First, I have totalk about this Phil dude, I suppose. I don't know him. I don't know your relationship with him. I wasn't there to see events unfold, and so I can't say anything meaningful about any of that. YES, it seemed rather sudden to me, which caused me to find it really kind of creepy. One has to take into account, though, that I still loved you, and, had you offered me another chance after breaking up with Jon, I would have taken it. Jealousy (for lack of a gentler, more fitting word) was, of course, affecting my views on the matter, and as a rational person counseling a friend, I know that such tainted opinions cannot be relied upon. In short, I can't say anything bad about your relationship with Phil, other than that I really hope you're happy and will continue to be so, and also that it really is what God wants for you. So.
Now to the meat of the matter. It seems to me that this other issue is completely seperate from the one just discussed. I hope that's not just my idealism shining through. But let's say for now that this ideal is, indeed the actual fact. ("Can I find actual what I know is ideal?" Don't mind me, I'm being bitter on the side.) So, you're thinking of dropping out of college after this semester because (a)your ultimate ambition in life is to serve God as a full-time wife and mother (b)you don't know what degree you want to pursue (c)you are unable to visualize what you might do with any such degree (as a housewife?) and (d)you feel that continuing to pay oodles of cash for college is a waste in light of all this, and your time would be better spent working. Let me say right now that, while (a) is fine thing and there's nothing wrong with it, my views differ from your on most of the other points. Indulge me now to go through them one by one and raise my objections.
Firstly, a college degree will not prevent you from becoming an effective wife or mother, or in any other way harm such capacities. It will, as I'm sure you realize, cause a delay in their acheivment, but as has been shown far too many times, something that does have a tendency to hinder effectiveness in wfeliness and especially motherhood is getting married too earlier (and, subsequently, bearing children too early). It is my belief that the years spent completeing college (though that is not necesarily the only option you may choose to fill those years with, eg. Peace Corp, Seminary, living abroad, or just working) may give you valuable experience that will help you better acheive your goals.
Secondly, many young adults do not yet know their field of study by teh end of their first year of college. The aim of most college is not to make men and women into perfect tools for one task alone, but to sharpen them in general and give to them some of the many benefits civilization has prepared over the years. Even if you end up with a silly degree or no degree at all, college is a unique experience and should be savored while the opportunity is present. After getting your e-mail, I happened to re-read Ecclesiastes (Did you know it's alternately called "The Preacher"?) 3. In this chapter, it talks about how seasons come and go, and the role of mankind is to enjoy the opportunities the Lord has given and praise the goodness of the Lord. Rushing to get where you know you'll end up does not seem to fit that standard.
Thirdly, though a degree is largely meaningless and unimportant, it still holds bearing in society. The truth is, a degree will get you a better job if you choose to have one, and better pay as well. It will increase your credibility as a worthwhile person to the world around you, making you ministry more effective.
Fourthly, the oodles of cash. There is really no solution to this, but the point is moot if, as I hope, my previous arguments have shown the merits of continuing your college education for a while longer.
Finally, I'd like to bring up a few other things, like your parents. I know you don't agree with your parents on many issues, but you are exhorted to honour them, and dropping out of college without a whole monkey lot of consideration would be rash, and no honour at all.
Basically, Amanda, what I'm saying is, really think about this. Talk to your other friends, your pastor, professors, your advisor, whatever. I can understand if you don't talk to your parents. Just.... I don't want to see you make a mistake. And, truthfully, I have trouble seeing any way dropping out of college would not be. I'm sorry. You have my assurance that you would still have my love and friendship. I pray you'll never do anything that could make those cease. I love you, Amanda. Write back. -Ian
It took me quite a while to finish (heh) that. Probably because of the hour-and-a-half break in the middle where I hung out in Dan's room, trying to get over how depressing the ending of The Seagull was. Wow. I just checked, and I've definately written my thousand words today. I'm tired of typing, working. I guess I extrospect on the play later. Goodnight, a Dieu.
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