Is College For Girls?
College did much for me that has helped me tremendously in life.
College caused me to stretch my thinking and forced me to learn some subjects that I might not have been as likely to spend time on - a good exercise in discipline.
College broadened my outlook and gave me a much wider view of life. I met people from all walks and from all over the USA, and have remained friends with many of them. Young people who stay at home and, if they attend college, go to something small and local, miss this wonderful opportunity.
Most of all, college gave me the opportunity to soak in both knowledge and wisdom from excellent professors who communicated much more than facts - they communicated love for their subject and inspiration to learn, as well as modeling godly principles that have stuck with me over the years. Their experience in both academics and teaching was outstanding. Those qualities can’t be gleaned from a book or a computer screen.
While learning is lifelong and can be acquired in many ways, the opportunity to attend college is like the icing on a cake. It added to my life in many definable and undefinable ways. And all that is in addition to giving me a marketable skill.
While I would not ever put down or be negative toward those who can’t or don’t go to college, neither would I ever denigrate the tremendous benefits of a good college education.
College caused me to stretch my thinking and forced me to learn some subjects that I might not have been as likely to spend time on - a good exercise in discipline.
College broadened my outlook and gave me a much wider view of life. I met people from all walks and from all over the USA, and have remained friends with many of them. Young people who stay at home and, if they attend college, go to something small and local, miss this wonderful opportunity.
Most of all, college gave me the opportunity to soak in both knowledge and wisdom from excellent professors who communicated much more than facts - they communicated love for their subject and inspiration to learn, as well as modeling godly principles that have stuck with me over the years. Their experience in both academics and teaching was outstanding. Those qualities can’t be gleaned from a book or a computer screen.
While learning is lifelong and can be acquired in many ways, the opportunity to attend college is like the icing on a cake. It added to my life in many definable and undefinable ways. And all that is in addition to giving me a marketable skill.
While I would not ever put down or be negative toward those who can’t or don’t go to college, neither would I ever denigrate the tremendous benefits of a good college education.
[Ann B.]…College caused me to stretch my thinking and forced me to learn some subjects that I might not have been as likely to spend time on - a good exercise in discipline.
College broadened my outlook and gave me a much wider view of life. I met people from all walks and from all over the USA, and have remained friends with many of them. Young people who stay at home and, if they attend college, go to something small and local, miss this wonderful opportunity.
Most of all, college gave me the opportunity to soak in both knowledge and wisdom from excellent professors who communicated much more than facts - they communicated love for their subject and inspiration to learn, as well as modeling godly principles that have stuck with me over the years. Their experience in both academics and teaching was outstanding. Those qualities can’t be gleaned from a book or a computer screen.
While learning is lifelong and can be acquired in many ways, the opportunity to attend college is like the icing on a cake. It added to my life in many definable and undefinable ways. And all that is in addition to giving me a marketable skill.
While I would not ever put down or be negative toward those who can’t or don’t go to college, neither would I ever denigrate the tremendous benefits of a good college education.
I understand what you’re saying Ann, but those opportunities are not restricted to college campuses. My community is full of people from other states and countries- the lady across the street emigrated from Germany. Just the other day I spoke to an exchange student from the Ukraine, and a preacher who’s been a missionary to Australia for 26 years recently visited our church and gave us great information and insight into his life there. I have friends who were born and raised in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and nearly every state in the Union. We meet and interact with intelligent and experienced people regularly- the local nursing home is full of them. One of my husband’s friends is a hot air balloonist of all things.
Everyone thinks that going somewhere else will give them some special knowledge that they can’t get at home, but everyone’s somewhere else is someone else’s hometown (that they are probably dreaming of escaping). Young people need to learn how to see all the opportunities right under their noses and quit hoping that something better is around the next corner.
[Susan R]Of course learning is not restricted to college campuses. But to be more specific - In a college setting, you not only meet people from other parts of the U.S. and the world - you live with them for nine months. Very different situation. And I did get special knowledge I couldn’t get at home. I learned much about Christian philosophy, Christian teaching, science from a Christian perspective - all from teachers uniquely qualified to teach and inspire. The effect of that should not be minimized.
I understand what you’re saying Ann, but those opportunities are not restricted to college campuses. My community is full of people from other states and countries- the lady across the street emigrated from Germany. Just the other day I spoke to an exchange student from the Ukraine, and a preacher who’s been a missionary to Australia for 26 years recently visited our church and gave us great information and insight into his life there. I have friends who were born and raised in Brazil, Papua New Guinea, and nearly every state in the Union. We meet and interact with intelligent and experienced people regularly- the local nursing home is full of them. One of my husband’s friends is a hot air balloonist of all things.
Everyone thinks that going somewhere else will give them some special knowledge that they can’t get at home, but everyone’s somewhere else is someone else’s hometown (that they are probably dreaming of escaping). Young people need to learn how to see all the opportunities right under their noses and quit hoping that something better is around the next corner.
The college experience itself uniquely broadens and expands a woman’s life in a tremendous way. The specific benefits of a good college education for a young person are something that cannot really be duplicated, even though other kinds of broadening educational opportunities do abound.
Susan,
When you responded to my blindspot post you said you comepensated for your own by having them study those areas. I think you are misunderstanding blindspots for weaknesses. By God’s grace, we all know the areas where we are weak. But we usually don’t know our blindspots, thus they are called blindspots. :) I think this kinda builds on what Dave said. A solid Christian College is a place where you discover blindspots in others and how do avoid them, but more importantly where you discover your own and those of your parents and grow through them.
When you responded to my blindspot post you said you comepensated for your own by having them study those areas. I think you are misunderstanding blindspots for weaknesses. By God’s grace, we all know the areas where we are weak. But we usually don’t know our blindspots, thus they are called blindspots. :) I think this kinda builds on what Dave said. A solid Christian College is a place where you discover blindspots in others and how do avoid them, but more importantly where you discover your own and those of your parents and grow through them.
Roger Carlson, Pastor Berean Baptist Church
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