SaggyWoman
Active Member
If you got a college education, and/or got your masters, was there ever a time in your career you have regretted it?
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Do you regret?
- Thread starter SaggyWoman
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NaasPreacher (C4K)
Well-Known Member
My only regret is not studying Greek and Hebrew
Joseph_Botwinick
<img src=/532.jpg>Banned
I guess I am confused. Why would I regret getting a good education?
Joseph Botwinick
Joseph Botwinick
Taufgesinnter
New Member
Every day. I regret taking the second of my bachelor's degrees, but not the first. I regret spending the extra two years or so that the second bachelor's took to do, but not the extra year and several summer sessions I took getting the first degree. I regret not picking up an associate's degree along the way. I don't regret taking undergrad courses in art and music appreciation, learning to read music and play an instrument, or the courses in anthropology, psychology, sociology, political science, history, philosophy, geography, literature, English composition, creative writing, film, German, public speaking, algebra and geometry, biology, health, driver education, weight training, fitness walking, statistics, or the first couple courses in chemistry. I regret all the rest of my undergrad courses, though, as mostly wastes of my time.
I regret going away to grad school instead of seminary. I regret pursuing a doctorate I wasn't really interested in, in a discipline that wasn't my first choice, to enter a career I hadn't previously planned on, and the years and loans spent on it. I don't regret the courses in teaching and teaching methods, French, or most of the courses in religious studies and in constitutional law. I don't regret that the circumstances allowed me to get college teaching experience. But I regret not going to seminary instead very, very much.
I don't regret getting my master's degree, as I really enjoyed writing my thesis, and back then I still liked, even loved, writing research papers rather than loathing it, or the fact that it qualified me to teach college. But I regret the vast majority of time and courses and money spent after the point of my M.A.
After saving up for it and other expenses for a couple of years, I plan to go to Bible college, and, D.V., seminary after that. I don't anticipate regretting a moment of those. Of course, I'll only know for sure after the fact.
I've wanted to study the Bible in a formal classroom setting, along with church history, theology, doctrine, biblical languages, and apologetics, for SO long and so much!!
I regret going away to grad school instead of seminary. I regret pursuing a doctorate I wasn't really interested in, in a discipline that wasn't my first choice, to enter a career I hadn't previously planned on, and the years and loans spent on it. I don't regret the courses in teaching and teaching methods, French, or most of the courses in religious studies and in constitutional law. I don't regret that the circumstances allowed me to get college teaching experience. But I regret not going to seminary instead very, very much.
I don't regret getting my master's degree, as I really enjoyed writing my thesis, and back then I still liked, even loved, writing research papers rather than loathing it, or the fact that it qualified me to teach college. But I regret the vast majority of time and courses and money spent after the point of my M.A.
After saving up for it and other expenses for a couple of years, I plan to go to Bible college, and, D.V., seminary after that. I don't anticipate regretting a moment of those. Of course, I'll only know for sure after the fact.
I got all that alphabet soup stuff....BA, M.Div., D. Min. and no regrets except maybe why didn't I study a little harder and take a few more classes to enhance my ministry.
Like Circuitrider, I've got a lot of letters behind my name. With that and 50 cents, I can get a cup of coffee at Hardees.
Two regrets in NOT getting education. I was working in a Christian college in Dallas and was asked by the President of the school to work on another doctorate. Calvary College (Letcher, KY) was offering a program for christian college profs to get a generic Ed.D. I could write curriculum, teach, and speak and get credit.
I was also accepted at SMU in the Law School and it would have been a four-year night program for working professionals. I opted for Calvary College program.
20/20 hindsight. Calvary College degree hanging on my wall, but it really means nothing! School went defunct just two years after I completed my work. Our school (International Institute) tried to take over and keep it afloat, but Texas had different educational standards for degrees.
So I missed getting a QUALITY degree and got one that looks nice on the wall!
Two regrets in NOT getting education. I was working in a Christian college in Dallas and was asked by the President of the school to work on another doctorate. Calvary College (Letcher, KY) was offering a program for christian college profs to get a generic Ed.D. I could write curriculum, teach, and speak and get credit.
I was also accepted at SMU in the Law School and it would have been a four-year night program for working professionals. I opted for Calvary College program.
20/20 hindsight. Calvary College degree hanging on my wall, but it really means nothing! School went defunct just two years after I completed my work. Our school (International Institute) tried to take over and keep it afloat, but Texas had different educational standards for degrees.
So I missed getting a QUALITY degree and got one that looks nice on the wall!
One evening a man was walking through the desert. A voice spoke to him and said, "Reach down and put some rocks in your pocket and in the morning you will be both glad and sorry". The man reached down, picked up three rocks and put them in his pocket. Then he lay down to sleep. The next morning he awoke and rolled over so that the rocks dug into his leg. Uncomfortable, he reached in his pocket and pulled the rocks out. But, instead of three mere rocks, the rocks had changed into a ruby, a diamond, and a pearl. And the man was both glad and sorry. He was glad he had listened to the voice and picked up the rocks. He was sorry he had not picked up more. So it is with an education.
When I see the prices to-day, I am glad I went to school when I did. Not a penny in debt, and not a penny borrowed.
I have no regrets about the schools I attended, nor the courses of study followed. I would do it all over again.
My thanks to God, that I was privileged to pastor a church from my second week in Bible College. I would forego all the schooling for that experience.
Education, to me, is not what the school offers in curriculum, but what the student puts into the courses offered. If the course calls for one book, read two. Memorize all you can in point form, not the whole text. As my English professor said, "A student works best under pressure, and I am that pressure." He was right, and he was...we lost a mark for each spelling error and a mark for each grammatical error.
Whilst it is important to study scripture and related topics, do not ignore literature. It will serve you time and time again in ministry.
Cheers,
Jim
I have no regrets about the schools I attended, nor the courses of study followed. I would do it all over again.
My thanks to God, that I was privileged to pastor a church from my second week in Bible College. I would forego all the schooling for that experience.
Education, to me, is not what the school offers in curriculum, but what the student puts into the courses offered. If the course calls for one book, read two. Memorize all you can in point form, not the whole text. As my English professor said, "A student works best under pressure, and I am that pressure." He was right, and he was...we lost a mark for each spelling error and a mark for each grammatical error.
Whilst it is important to study scripture and related topics, do not ignore literature. It will serve you time and time again in ministry.
Cheers,
Jim
No, I have never regretted getting a college degree. The ironic thing was that my beginning teacher's salary was so low that women who had gone to work directly from high school were making more money than I was.
But it is not about money, is it? I am glad to see that teachers are beginning to receive higher salaries.
I only taught for seven years, then stayed home to take care of my children. When I did return to work, I worked for State government, but not as a teacher.
But it is not about money, is it? I am glad to see that teachers are beginning to receive higher salaries.
I only taught for seven years, then stayed home to take care of my children. When I did return to work, I worked for State government, but not as a teacher.
Pete Richert
New Member
I regret not getting more education. Actually I am always looking for ways to keep going. I regret doubling in mathematics and electrical engineering instead of electrical engineering and ancient languages. Unfortuantly, I learned I love Greek and Hebrew my senior year, too little to late.I don't regret getting my masters a single second, and my wallet doesn't regret it either (despite the loans!!!). After getting a master's at arguably one of the top two places in the nation for Electrical Engineering, I regret not going to a better undergrad to build a more solid base. However, I met my wife at my underground, of whom two precious little girls have come, so that regret is quite overshadowed by joy. I know it was God plan for me to pursue graduate school over seminary, but sometimes I regret not Studying the Bible for a living and instead designing computer chips.
Past
I am in my early thirties and working on my BABS/MDiv at SEBTS which I should have started at least 10 years ago. Instead, in my early twenties I chose to pursue a career in Computer Programming. Even though I loved and still love programming, I knew God was calling me into full-time ministry. I wasted time and money when I could have obeyed this gracious call earlier! If God calls you now, do it NOW!
Present
I regret that I have to work 60 hours a week just to be able to continue my studies and pay off our debt accumulated last year while unemployed. I am exhousted most of the time and consequently time spent with my family and mininstry greatly suffers for it. I feel like I am locked into this situation (for a reason however). The Lord knows...
Future
I will regret that one day I will have to stand in front of my dear Lord and give an account for all the time/money/energy wasted and not used for His Kingdom! I will regret that I did not make my life's motto that of the Puritans: "Thou shalt not waste time!"
I am in my early thirties and working on my BABS/MDiv at SEBTS which I should have started at least 10 years ago. Instead, in my early twenties I chose to pursue a career in Computer Programming. Even though I loved and still love programming, I knew God was calling me into full-time ministry. I wasted time and money when I could have obeyed this gracious call earlier! If God calls you now, do it NOW!
Present
I regret that I have to work 60 hours a week just to be able to continue my studies and pay off our debt accumulated last year while unemployed. I am exhousted most of the time and consequently time spent with my family and mininstry greatly suffers for it. I feel like I am locked into this situation (for a reason however). The Lord knows...
Future
I will regret that one day I will have to stand in front of my dear Lord and give an account for all the time/money/energy wasted and not used for His Kingdom! I will regret that I did not make my life's motto that of the Puritans: "Thou shalt not waste time!"
JonathanDT
New Member
Never rue time spent in training; any training. It is all useful in the service of the Lord. When we enter ministry, we never know what circumstance will bring our way, and you might just find that secular experience bodes well in ministry.
I never regretted studying architecture and I have used it time and time again over a 57 year ministry. The discipline of study applies in all fields, and will just make you a better student of God's word.
Sometimes I think we rush too soon into ministry and regret that we didn't get more secular studies.
Cheers, and in God's time, blessings,
Jim
I never regretted studying architecture and I have used it time and time again over a 57 year ministry. The discipline of study applies in all fields, and will just make you a better student of God's word.
Sometimes I think we rush too soon into ministry and regret that we didn't get more secular studies.
Cheers, and in God's time, blessings,
Jim
computerjunkie
New Member
Very true, Jim. I have a college degree and have been very glad many, many times. And I have my parents to thank for it!
I graduated high school and went to college. After 2 years of college, I wanted to quit. I remember telling my parents, "I've been in school 14 years, and I'm tired of it!" My parents, in their GREAT wisdom, said if I would go just one more year, then I could quit if I still wanted to. Well, guess what? After "one more year", I thought, "Gee...just one MORE year, and I'll be finished!" So, I went that 4th year and got my degree! (They were pretty smart, huh?!)
I learned many things that have helped me in my career, as well as things that have helped me "learn" to study with discipline. I would not trade the experience, and the degree, for anything!!
CJ
Kidz-4-HIM
New Member
No, not at all! The only thing I regret is not getting all of it done on time! BTW I'm still taking classes.
