Like wisdom, inspiration flows from many diverse avenues. My inspiration for this article was derived from the Chinese, not the ethnic group directly, but from their take-out restaurants’ fortune cookies. My most recent fortune read, “Many receive advice, only the wise profit from it.” As seniors draw nearer to making their college decisions and juniors begin to contemplate what colleges to consider (instigated by the dreaded college research paper), we look to the wise among us for advice. We garner guidance from our mentors – our teachers, coaches, and counselors.
For some, the college decision is hardly a decision at all. Dr. Timothy Gibson, English teacher, was born and raised an Ole Miss Rebel.
“My dad began taking me to Ole Miss Football games when I was four years old. I was raised a Rebel, and I have never known anything else. A person attends the University of Mississippi, but he or she never graduates from Ole Miss,” said Gibson.
For many, the college decision becomes a deliberation of many factors. Doug Coleman, WCA basketball coach, juggled many balls in making his ultimate decision.
“As a junior-senior in high school athletics were a big part of my life. I wanted to find a college where I could play basketball. Academics were important, so was being close to home. My mom did not have a lot of money to send me to college, so scholarships were a big deal [in my choice],” said Coleman.
For others, the choice transpires out of a gut feeling within. For Chris Knerr, history teacher, The University of Miami, Ohio drew him in with its red brick building, attractive girls, and a noteworthy hockey team.
“Choosing a college is like choosing a wife. Only you can’t have kids with the college. There are a lot of intangibles. Does it feel like home? Have you had a chance to interact with any of the students, and are they remotely interesting people? Do you like the campus? Is there a strong Christian group on campus, and are there viable options for church attendance nearby? Are there beautiful red brick buildings? Are there perky co-eds? Do they have a good hockey team? In short, follow your gut, as corny as that sounds…and if it doesn’t work, transfer. It’s not a big deal,” said Knerr.
The notion of transfer comes with a negative connotation, but feelings and circumstances can adjust throughout college presenting situations for needed or necessary change.
“I spent my first year at The University of Arkansas then transferred back to Missouri [and attended South West Missouri State] for cheaper tuition,” said Steve Bradley, middle school science teacher.
“[I transferred] from Maryville to Florissant Valley Community College after my sophomore year. I was married and had one child by the time I was 20 years-old. It was tough playing basketball and being a dad, so I transferred. It was affordable. I later transferred again because I was coaching right out of college,” said Coleman.
Often one of the biggest frets for perspective college students revolves around their major. At 18, deciding what most interests you proves remarkably challenging. Not to mention, the daunting thought of your future seems to hinge upon your ultimate degree.
Gibson, an English and Broadcast Journalism major with a PhD in Educational Studies, became a teacher, without the basic teaching certification. Eric Bain, WCA basketball coach, a previous television production major, worked in the television business right out of college, but found in his spare time while helping coach his former high school basketball team that his true calling was coaching and working with young adults. Kate Kindbom, College and Career Counselor, double majored in English and psychology at Kenyon College. After embarking on a career in the college counseling work, she attended Harvard University for graduate school and achieved her Master’s of Education in Counseling Processes.
As the ultimate authority on the college decision, she constantly encourages seniors to “pick the college that is the best ‘fit’ for you, the college that feels most like ‘home’ when you visit. Visit your college choices a couple times if possible, so you can figure out which one fits best. Everything else – major, dorm, internships, friendships – will fall into place better if you pick the college that is the best fit with your personality.”
Others reiterated her sentiments.
“Follow your heart while being open to the advice of others…Love to learn,” said Coleman.
“It is not the big deal everyone makes it out to be. You can get a good education almost anywhere; the quality of the education you receive has more to do with your work ethic and ambition than does the name or reputation of the school. To be happy in school, you need four or five friends, a place to be spiritually nurtured, a school that offers a major in the field you want to pursue. Everything else is pretty much extraneous. You can go to a secular school and have a rich spiritual life, or you can go to a Christian school and have a rich spiritual life,” said, Dr. Scott Holley, English teacher.
“I think that a lot of Westminster students ask the question, ‘Is going to this college God’s will?’ I believe that God can use any opportunity for his purpose, and we forget that at times because we get really overwhelmed by the college choice,” said Tim Holley, history teacher.
“You need to consider a variety of factors, but, at the end of the day, you will hopefully have the flexibility to choose the college that ‘pulls at your heart strings,’” said Gibson.