Working Out That Whole Future Thing

This year has involved a lot of trying to figure out what my future might or should hold. This isn't a unique characteristic. Plenty of seniors are on the same boat as me. However, that doesn't make it any less stressful! 

I know I’m interested in continuing my study of religion and theology at the graduate level and would love, one day, to be a professor in that area. However, the job market for higher education isn’t great, so I’m trying to determine how I can follow my passion for theological and religious studies in a practical way that can lead to a career. 

Originally, I had been looking at Master of Arts programs in Religion and a Masters of Theological Studies program. These are primarily academic degrees that serve as preparation for a Ph.D. My plan was to pursue one of those degrees, if I was given funding, and discern from there whether or not I wanted to continue for my doctorate; if not, I wanted to use that academic background in a church or non-profit setting. When I went to my professors for guidance, however, they gave me more options to consider. Some encouraged me to look at Master of Divinity degrees from seminaries as well. These would still allow me to pursue a Ph.D., if I desire, but open the doors to more opportunities in the church, non-profits, etc. 

Now, as I look at my list of graduate schools I’m applying to in the U.S.,  it’s primarily seminaries! One of my professors even suggested I consider ordination as a possible option. I’m far from sold on that idea, though it’s scary to even have floating in the back of my mind. As someone who grew up in the Roman Catholic church, being a priest was never really a career option I could mull over in childhood. It is something available to me, however, if I join the Episcopal church, which feels increasingly likely.   

This semester so far has shown me that, even as a senior in college, I still have a lot to figure out in terms of vocation. I appreciate that I’ve been able to seek out my own pathway in community with others. This year I’ve gotten involved in our campus’s Pre-Ministry group, which meets biweekly to discuss topics like vocation, ministry, and serving God in our future careers. I’ve loved being able to have these discussions with fellow students and our interim chaplain.

At a meeting last Thursday, our interim chaplain shared with us the story of discovering his vocation. A group of us stayed afterwards for a chat about life, God, vocation, etc. I didn’t leave with a particularly clear idea of where I should go for the future—but I did leave feeling excited about God and the relationships I have on this campus. 

Overall, it’s amazing to think about how much my plans have changed (even if they aren’t definite) over the course of four years. As a freshman, I entered college with a set career path in mind. My main professional goal was to be a novelist who wrote young adult fiction. I assumed, to make a living, I would enter editing and publishing. Over my four years, I’ve realized that I don’t have a strong interest in being involved in the publishing business (besides one day being a published writer hopefully) and that there might be other career paths better suited for me. I spent some time considering being a librarian and an archivist before feeling, eventually, that both of those weren’t for me either. I found that I kept returning to the idea of graduate school for religion or theology in my head. I kept wanting to write this off as impractical, but the idea has pretty much grabbed hold of me. As you can tell from the rest of the post, I’ve decided that I need to at least give this idea a chance and see where it might lead.

Whether or not grad school will even be a financially feasible option, when acceptance and rejection time comes, remains to be seen. But I’m excited that I’m giving myself a chance to see.  

Scholar's House: Plans for Next Year

After much thinking and analyzing and generally freaking out, I have landed upon a tentative plan for my living arrangements this year.  Ideally, I’d like to live in the Scholar's House.  The Scholar's House is a small living environment that houses about 23 people.  To live at the Scholars House, you have to be embarking on a personal project, somewhat academic in nature.  Getting into the Scholar's House is not based solely on lottery numbers, like it is for groups to get a place together or for two roommates to find a double.  Rather, there’s an application process to get into the house, and your project idea is reviewed. 

A few posts back, I talked about how I want to do my sophomore essay about representation of faith in Young Adult literature.  My project idea goes hand-in-hand with this.  Ultimately what I want to do as a writer is write novels, and in fact, those were the type of things I worked on before I came to Susquehanna.  This year I think I’ve made strides in my writing, but my only significant completed pieces have been for my Creative Writing classes.  Next year I really need to be working on a novel, and making it my project would ensure that I’d set aside that time for writing.  Also, I would like to start up another blog about Faith and Fiction that would provide reviews of novels that include or speak to faith, particularly those involving teenagers.

I am very excited about this idea and also about the environment of the Scholar's House.  Two of my friends are also applying, but I would still have a chance to meet new people.  Also, I love Hassinger which is a small environment (though not nearly as small as the Scholars House) so hopefully I would enjoy a small environment again.  Additionally, I’m actually looking forward to the idea of a single.  At first this wasn’t all that appealing to me, but I’m beginning to realize the benefits—one being that at the Scholar's House, I can try the single experience and it doesn’t cost me an extra $1000 like the rest of the singles on campus.

The applications are due March 18th, and I should find out if I get in the following week.  Depending on the result of who does or does not get into the Scholar's House, back-up plans might mean I'll end up in a triple, which is a room that is bigger than average and specifically designed for 3 people (Hopefully, this would be in West Hall.) or in a double.   Hopefully whatever happens will work out for the best!  

Journey to Susquehanna Part 2



Me before my student reading
at the Writers Workshop

To recap, Journey to Susquehanna Part 1 shared my love for creative writing and my first experience at Susquehanna.  I adored the school, but I was only going into my junior year.  It was too early to be sure about anything. 

As a junior, I came for a formal visit.  It was my first time seeing SU during the school year.  I had read that it was important to visit when students were there to see if you liked the vibe.  I was not disappointed.  My love for the school was affirmed, and it only increased when I participated in my second Summer Advanced Writers Workshop.  At the end of that program, I didn’t want to endure another year of high school.  I wished I could simply stay on campus and start my college life.



Unfortunately, the week ended, and I was off to my senior year.  Susquehanna was obviously on my application list.  No matter how excited I got about other schools, I had a gut feeling I’d end up here; there was something that struck me as homey whenever I was on campus.  Still, I applied to seven colleges total.  I was applying to a lot more places than most of my friends.  When many had already settled on their college, I was still in agony, no sure idea of where I’d end up.  It was stressful to think that I didn’t even know what state I’d live in the next year: Ohio, New Jersey, Vermont, North Carolina, or Pennsylvania?  When it was finally time to hear back from my last few “reach” schools, I wasn’t dying to be accepted as much as I was dying to know.

Even once all the decisions were in, my decision wasn’t yet made.  My options came down to three schools: Susquehanna, a small private college in Ohio, and a state school in North Carolina.  The North Carolina school was eliminated first because of distance and an unimpressive financial aid package.  To make a choice between my last two schools required a trip to Ohio.  My other option was nice, and it had everything I wanted, in the general sense, but the campus lacked that same feeling that Susquehanna gave me.  A certain chemistry, so to speak.  Even my parents preferred SU.

Speaking of my parents, they are big reasons I can come to a school like Susquehanna and major in Creative Writing.  A lot of parents try to push their kids into profitable fields or certain molds, but my parents have always allowed me to pursue my individual dreams—even if that comes with some risk.  They've supported my creative endeavors my entire life, just as they’ve supported my older brother’s and just as they supported me in my choice of college.

With the help of merit scholarships, I was able to pick Susquehanna, the school that I loved, which didn’t only seem to have stronger academics and more opportunities but just felt like my school.    

I’m happy to say now that I’m here, it still feels like my school.  Like right decisions and no regrets and a home away from my home.