The question that every college student has heard more than
once in his or her life:
“What’s your major?”
And the almost-as-famous follow-up question:
“So what do you want to do with that?”
I am a Mass Communications major with a concentration in
Advertising/Public Relations (I’m still trying to decide between Advertising or
PR). I have no idea what I want to do with this degree- all I know is that I
love people, I love to write, and I’m pretty darn good at communicating with
others. That’s what makes up a good communications major, right? I’ve been asked what I want to do once I
graduate more times than I can remember, and each time I’ve given a lot of
thought to my answer….
Is it bad that all I want to do when I graduate is be a mom?
Yes, I want to have a job and provide for my kids. Sure, it would be nice to
marry a man who is very successful at what he does so that I don’t have to
worry about finances. All of that is great to hope for, but are those wishes really the most important things in life?
I recently took a quiz about my personality, and one of the
sections was entitled ‘Motivations’: Motivations for working and motivations
for life in general. Want to know the thing that least motivates me? Money.
Want to know what motivates me the most? Philanthropy. Money scored 1 out of
10; Philanthropy scored 10 out of 10. What greater way to show philanthropy in
this entire world than MOTHERHOOD. Taking care of and pouring everything you have into a person that can
give nothing back to you but love (and most of the time tears). If I fail at
every job I try, but am successful at being a mother, then I will be content
with my life. God will provide.
What do I want to do with my degree? I want to take that
piece of paper, frame it, and I want to show my kids one day a document that says
I was successful at something I set forth to do in my life. For four years I
was able to manage my time and learn those things that made me grow
intellectually. I was able to sit through hours of lectures, study, teach
myself most of the material (if we’re being honest), and perform decently come
exam day. But grades are only a part of my college life- and a very small part
in fact. I can only learn so much in the classroom and that isn’t the only
thing that will tell me if I was successful or not in my 20’s.
You know what else I’m going to show my kids one day? I’m
going to show them my championship soccer rings- those that show them I
sacrificed my time and my body for a team that did the same for me. The rings
that tell them their mother tried her best at something and managed to come out
on top- not once, but twice (I still have two more years to play so hopefully
that number will reach four!). They will see that hard work and dedication can
pay off in the end, but also that in the end it’s just a ring and memories, a
ring and memories that are very special but fleeting. I will tell them the most
important things I got out of my college soccer career were perseverance,
patience, and relentlessness, not the diamond-studded jewelry. Without those
traits I would not have been successful.
I’m going to show my kids one day my sorority badge- the
badge that labels me a member of a sisterhood greater than myself. The letters
I wear that show I was part of a group of girls that are making a difference in
this world across campuses nationwide- that show I was and will always be part
of a Greek community that will do anything for its brothers and sisters. Greek
life is important to learn how to get along with people very different from
you. Not everyone in your group is the same; in fact there are more people
different from you than there are similar. But I have learned to find the
similarities in people and work with those I never would have connected with
otherwise. The world is so diverse, and I will be able to show my kids that I
was able to get along and make lasting relationships with people that were very
different from me. I think that is something important to pass down to them.
I am going to show my kids one day all the pictures I have taken. I want to show them my world and my life through my eyes. I want them to know that the little things in life- like the beauty of a bluebonnet at my parents' ranch, and the breath-taking sunsets on the coasts of Texas- are just as important to enjoy as the bigger things in life. I am going to pass down my love for life to my kids. We are only given one life, and we are supposed to enjoy every second of it. I want to show my kids that I can see the positive in every situation, no matter how horrible the situation may seem. Everyday there is something to enjoy and everyday there is something to be thankful for. I want to show my kids the beauty of this world, and show them how to see it even when it's hard. Life is hard, but being able to see the good makes it all worth it.
I will also show my kids my wedding ring and wedding band. I
will show them through my relationship with their daddy what true love looks
like. A ring that symbolizes a commitment that was not initially formed to be
broken, no matter the hardships that may come along. My husband and I will be
an example to them of how parents should look and how a family should be. All
centered around Christ. Children need those good examples in their lives and I
want to be the best example for them. I grew up in a household with two loving
parents who stayed together and who showed me what a marriage should look like,
imperfections and all. One of the greatest gifts I can give to my kids is
someone to look up to.
If I didn’t have all of those things to show my kids one
day, the most important thing I could ever pass down to them is Christ’s love.
From the day I first thought of my future children I have been praying for
them. I am going to show my kids the Holy Bible. I will share with them the One
who completely changed my life for the better, and the One who wants to change
their lives as well. I will share with them the beautiful passages of God’s
promises to His people. I will share with them the Gospel that guarantees a
life beyond death, greater than any of us could ever imagine. I will share with
them their divine Creator, the One who made them in His image, and wants them
to seek after Him in all that they do. The ultimate, greatest gift I could ever
give my children is the opportunity to know the Lord, and the opportunity to
live in eternity with Him and with their parents.
What am I going to do with my college degree? I’m going to use it as a testament of one small part of my life that I conquered. My college degree is not and will never be the most important thing I acquire in my life. My major today may not teach me the valuable things in life I need to be taught. The most important thing I will receive and give to this world will be my children, and I am going to make sure they know what really matters in this life and after it. I am so excited to be a mother some day. That’s what I want to do with my college degree.
What am I going to do with my college degree? I’m going to use it as a testament of one small part of my life that I conquered. My college degree is not and will never be the most important thing I acquire in my life. My major today may not teach me the valuable things in life I need to be taught. The most important thing I will receive and give to this world will be my children, and I am going to make sure they know what really matters in this life and after it. I am so excited to be a mother some day. That’s what I want to do with my college degree.
xoRO
