Monday, May 21, 2007

Time to De-lurk

*May 22 - Edited to add Larissa to the "loyal commenters" list. She totally just had a baby 2 days ago and still found time to comment!*

Ok, bloggy friends. Here's the topic of discussion for today. Graduate School. Specifically, Honey going back to grad school.

My hard-working, man-of-his-word husband began a degree 5 years ago in Youth and Family Ministry. It was one of the stipulations of taking the youth ministry job at our former church. You see, his undergraduate degree is in business, and they wanted a youth minister with some sort of "Bible" degree. So, as he said he would, he began working on a "Bible" master's degree. Over the last five years, he has inherited and overseen a large youth ministry, raised a young son, brought twin daughters into the world, survived 2 very long winters of sickness when the girls were very literally sick every 2 weeks, spent more weeks of the summer traveling than being home, and been a caring, thoughtful husband, as well as kind, attentive father. And somehow managed to earn 27 hours of credit towards his degree.

Graduate school has never been a dream of his. He isn't that I-need-a-masters-degree-to-feel-successful kind of guy. His sole motivation in going back to school was to satisfy the requirements to keep his youth ministry job.

Well...he doesn't have that job anymore. Not only does he not have that specific job anymore, he doesn't really see himself in full time ministry any time soon, if ever again. So, the motivation is gone. A "Youth and Family Ministry" degree seems useless right now. He did finish his class last semester even though it seemed like a waste of time. But there is absolutely nothing exciting to him about enrolling for another semester. Or even making a plan to finish.

Y'all, he's 9 hours from being done! NINE HOURS, three classes. From a masters degree! I just can't stand that he is so close and just doesn't want to finish! I understand how he feels (I shudder at the thought of going back to any school that does not involve teaching pre-k twice a week.) and I know that it seems like a lame duck degree, but it's a masters degree. Honey, you are nine hours away from a masters degree! To me, it would be a shame to make all that hard, time consuming, sometimes inconsequential work seem useless by not finishing. You are so close!

So here is where the de-lurking is involved. I've decided to let you guys help me present this argument to Honey. I know there are people who read this blog that never comment. I'm good with lurkers. I am one myself. It's fun to lurk, no strings attached when you lurk. I am asking, just this once, that you de-lurk. Come out of annonymity and tell me what you think. Give us your advice. Do you think Honey should finish his degree? Whether you are a lurker or whether you are a loyal commenter (Laci and Binkley Family and Larissa) tell me your opinion about this whole graduate school thing. Just click on the word "comments" at the bottom of this post and type away. If you don't want to register with Blogger, submit it as Annonymous. I promise not to delete your comment if you're not on my side.

9 comments:

A D said...

Okay, first - you're not going to our church anymore? I am very sad at this...but fully and totally understand. As long as you are going somewhere.
I myself never want to go back to school. However, Honey, you have worked so hard and even though you started it for a job finish it for you. It is a great accomplishment. You worked hard. We are proud of you!!!!

Larissa said...

Totally understand why he doesn't want to...but seriously 9 hours...9 hours!!! He needs to do it. Good luck convincing him of that! :)

The Binkley Family said...

Thanks for the link! :)
Nine hours is not even a full semester, and even if he doesn't want to use it to be a youth minister, he absolutely needs to finish that! God has a plan and while he may have thought that degree was useful for his old job, it may just be important for the road ahead!

Okay, so now I am just being nosey, but what church are you guys going to now?jk

The Binkley Family said...

I am not sure how my post ended with "jk" but please ignore! oops!

Anonymous said...

Yes, I am that creepy anonymous person who NEVER comments on anyone's blog..............but I feel like I must this time. Honey, you must do this. What a testimony it will be to your kids to finish the things you started (even when it does not seem necessary). PLUS, who knows what God has in store. MANY companies look at a application and see the word MASTERS and leap at it, even if it has nothing to do with the job. It just confirms the great commitment you have as a person. As Nike would say, "JUST DO IT"

Anonymous said...

Ok, this is Honey, and here is my side of the story. Yea, I only have nine hours left, but right now I'm working 1 40 hour a week job and 2 part-time jobs. I hate to read, and I hate on-line classes. I would have to take the online classes because I'm working to feed my family. Another thing is how are we going to pay for the classes. It cost around $1000. per class, and I don't know where the money would come from, much less the engergy to take the classes, keep up with the reading, posting papers and comments on discussion boards.

So with all that said you all know why I'm not really excited about finishing this degree, but who knows.

sincerely,

the one doing the work

The Binkley Family said...

To the one doing the work:

I understand your side of it. BUT....Maybe if you just do one three hour course a semester, and one in the summer, you could handle the work? (PS--have you talked to the financial aid office...they work miracles!)

We just hate to see you put forth all of that time and effort and not get the proof to hang up on your wall to show for it!

Anonymous said...

Ok, first of all how come I didnt make the loyal commenter's list?! Well...maybe I'm more between lurker and "loyal" commenter! LOL! Can you add another category of "sporadic" commenters? Just kidding of course!

Well...as a stay-at-home mom of 4 who has an ACCOUNTING degree (that she doesnt use) *AND* a K-8 TEACHER CERTIFICATION (that she uses part time) who fully understands the lack of motivation to finish and the "why bother" reasons...I say with all my heart...

FINISH IT!!!! Just do it! I know it sucks and I know it's hard and you do have plenty of good reasons to quit, and it's really tempting to just put that bad memory behind you and be rid of it once and for all. But you never know what's ahead. Also, you do have a really bad taste in your mouth right now and that makes you want to drop it even more but remember God uses the "bad" stuff in ways we would have never fathomed.

Also you dont want to be kicking yourself later. So if you get it and never use it, that's one thing...but you DID finish it and it's something to be proud of. BUT if you dont get it and later on need it or could use it, you'll definately kick yourself. So either go ahead and get it now and have an amazing accomplishment (and not let all that hard work go down the drain) or dont get it and kick yourself later...AND I'll come down there and kick you now. So there ya go.

Signed...an over-educated stay-at-home-mom!
Love you guys!
SJ

Anonymous said...

Here's my side--finish, but maybe not RIGHT now. How old are you, Honey? There is still time. Not sure I want you to know who said this, so...
From a faithful reader