5 Reasons why I am a College Dropout
11 Jan 2011 4 Comments
When I tell people that I don’t go to college, and have no plans to do so in the future, I often receive a blank look accompanied by the blunt question, “Why?” It’s hard to answer sometimes because there are so many reasons for my choice. Occasionally, a simple answer of, “I feel home is where I can best serve the Lord,” will suffice, but more often than not, people are genuinely curious about my decision and want to know more. The biggest problem I face is how to explain myself fully without giving offense (or boring my listeners). But here’s my best shot.
Let me begin with this disclaimer: I do not believe that it is a sin for girls to go to college. In fact, I believe that some girls truly are called to enter that environment. However, I also believe that a huge number of girls are in college not because it is something God has called them to do, but because it is something our culture has called them to do. To most people it seems as natural a step as learning to read – “It’s just something that you have to do.”
My point in this post is not that girls should never go to college but that they should carefully and prayerfully consider whether the dangers of obtaining a degree outweigh the benefits. So, to answer the question, here are a few reasons why I chose not to attend college:
1) I do not believe earning a degree is necessary to be pleasing to God.
As with many other things, we as Christians have accepted what the world considers necessary and have not weighed it against God’s priorities. The world has told women that they should pursue whatever their passions are and that they should make as much money as possible so that they can live independent lives. We have been indoctrinated to believe that women should not have to be “tied down” to a family or home life and that they should be encouraged to go after any self-centered dream they desire. Naturally, in many cases, this agenda requires getting a degree.
In the last post, I talked about God’s design for women: helper, servant, mother, etc. The question is, does getting a degree run alongside these principles? For me, the answer is “no.” My ultimate goal is to please God. From Scripture I read that the things which please God include evangelism, hospitality, caring for orphans and widows, serving my family, being a good steward of money, being peaceful, content, pure in heart, loving, respectful of authority, encouraging people, admonishing others toward good works, giving glory to God, and sacrificing my desires in exchange for God’s plans (among many other things). Interestingly enough, none of the commandments that I read about in the Bible require a degree. In fact, spending four years in college could actually keep me from doing these things and cause me to lose sight of my goal.
2) I found that pursuing a degree was spiritually damaging.
Having spent a year taking classes at our community college, I can attest that it is very difficult to stay focused on the things of God while trying to pursue a degree. The amount of studying required gives you little time to be involved in your community, church, or family life. The worldly environment (even on a Christian campus) can wear you down and leave you feeling drained spiritually. When you’re around people all day who are focused on self and climbing the ladder of “success” you can quickly find yourself thinking along those same lines.
God is my priority. Personally, I found it very hard to remain dedicated to Christ when my interests were divided between honoring God and earning a self-satisfying degree. That is not true for everybody, but I found that being in college was interfering with my ability to be the Christian I need to be. And since college is not something God requires of me and I do have other options, I see no reason to struggle through something that makes me unnecessarily weak as a Christian.
3) For me, college was a waste of time and money
Not only do you have to consider the impact college can have on your spiritual growth, but you also have to consider whether it is a wise use of your money. A typical degree can cost anywhere between $60,000 and $100,000. I came to the conclusion that being a good steward of God’s money meant not wasting it on a degree that I didn’t really need. Think about this: unless you are extremely blessed financially, if you choose to attend college you will likely enter marriage with debt from student loans. One way I believe I can support and help my future husband is by staying out of debt before marriage.
My biggest issue with college is not that it is inherently wrong. It’s not sinful in and of itself, and I have nothing against women being educated (though I honestly do not think that college gives you the highest education). My biggest complaint about college is how much valuable time it steals from young women. “Therefore be careful how you walk, not as unwise men but as wise, making the most of your time, because the days are evil. So then do not be foolish but understand what the will of the Lord is.” (Ephesians 5:15-17).
Think how much you could accomplish in the four years that a typical degree requires. Think what a difference you could make if you chose to dedicate the years before marriage to serving Christ and His Church rather than pursuing a degree and a career to satisfy your own desires! Satan wants to distract us from our purpose of serving God and bringing others to Him, and college was one of those distractions for me. We have no idea how many years we will have on this earth. How much of your valuable time do you really want to spend sitting in a classroom learning facts that you will promptly forget when the next test is over?
4) College tends to encourage self-reliance rather than reliance on God.
During the course of a conversation on college, most of the questions I receive generally begin with the phrase, “But what if…?” What if your husband dies? What if you never marry? What if your father loses his job and can no longer support you living at home?
First off, these are very real concerns and I do not want to treat them lightly. At the same time, I have no desire to live my life in fear. “Do not fear, for I am with you; do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, surely I will help you, surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10). We could live our whole lives preparing for the worst, or we could use the time we’ve been given to focus on furthering God’s Kingdom, knowing that God is on our side. For me, that means not wasting time in college or seeking a career. However, that does not mean that I could not step up to the plate, should a crisis occur and contribute to my family’s income.
This last summer my dad did lose his job and reality hit me. Life is hard. Being a helpless damsel in distress is not an option. I learned two big lessons during that time. 1) God is always faithful in providing what I need when I need it, and 2) it is possible to make it financially without resorting to sending women out to the workforce to hold down a steady job, even when times are uncertain (more on that later).
5) By staying home, I am free to flourish in my role as a Christian woman and focus on things which are of eternal value.
This, above all else, is why I chose to remain home until I marry. By spending my time at home and in the community rather than in a classroom I am able to do what I believe God really wants me to spend my time doing. Rather than handing the reins of my education over to a college, I have the opportunity to evaluate for myself (and based on God’s Word) what I want to read, study, learn, and accomplish. I am in a safe environment, I am under my parents’ authority and protection, and I am free to serve God to the utmost of my ability. I have the chance to serve those around me, help train and educate my younger sisters, strengthen my relationship with Christ and do things that will make a difference for eternity without the distraction of earning a degree. I know this is not the path that God leads every girl to follow, but it is the path God’s has placed me on, and I am so thankful that He has led me to the decision to stay home.
What really matters in the end is that you stay focused on doing what pleases God in your life. Whether that means remaining at home until marriage or living on a college campus while you earn a degree, God desires you to have a heart that seeks after Him in all things. It takes dedication and strength to stand against the world’s ideas of what a young woman should do with her life and to cling to God’s will for you, but it’s worth every second of struggle in the end.
“And make it your ambition to lead a quiet life and attend to your own business and work with your hands, just as we commanded you, so that you will behave properly toward outsiders and not be in any need.” (I Thessalonians 4:11).
All For Him,
Brittany N.
