Worth It?

           Every day we are faced with literally thousands of choices. Some as little as picking which sweatshirt to wear and some are much weightier and hold much more significance. I think these choices can put too much pressure on us, especially teenagers finishing up high school and venturing into the land of college. It seems as if by graduation day we have to have picked out our perfect college, career goals, be in a long-term relationship and have everything figured out. Let me tell you, that none of that is true. You don’t have to have everything figured out because there is someone who does. And He directs your path better than you ever could. You may pick a college for some very good reasons, but then decide it isn’t for you; you may think you know what you “want to be when you grow up,” but tastes and interest change as your horizons are widened; relationships are a lot of time and energy— and people/ feelings change over time. Nothing really goes according to plan. There are always bumps in the road.

Last year, as a senior in high school, I went along doing the usual senior thing and decided on a college. It was totally my decision, and I kind of rushed into the process by only applying to one college after going on only one college visit. But, I am so thankful to be at Calvin. God kept Calvin in my heart and mind, and going anywhere else just didn’t feel right. I absolutely loved my first semester, my first interim, and now I’m diving into the spring semester. They are very challenging and required a lot of work, but the work paid off! It was worth it. All the late nights spent doing Calculus and writing Spanish essays or watching documentaries on BioFuel were so worth it. I have learned so much, am beginning to understand how to really apply the things that I learn through classes to my life (mostly character traits, skills, and ways of thinking, not really things like how to find velocities and such). In that sense my work paid off.

Everyone I run into now asks how school is going. Usually I respond with “It’s busy, but it’s going well.” This is true. What many people have said next is what surprised me. Especially those connected with Calvin, or who know of Calvin’s reputation tell me that in the end, it is going to be worth it. I am getting a wonderful education (although it does deprive me of sleep at times) and am meeting incredible people. The literal monetary cost of coming here is great, but I am being reassured that in the end, I won’t regret it because the experience is worthwhile. [Note: I am not so naïve and biased as to think that Calvin is the only place I could be getting a great education, but I do think that right now it’s where I’m supposed to be.]

My real question goes something along the lines of: will the time and energy I put into every different facet of my life be worth it in the end? Ultimately, when I look back on my life will I remember that my time was wasted—uselessly spent looking at pictures of cats on the internet? Or will I be able to look back on my actions and see that every moment I could, I used to bring about the Kingdom? That is truly why life is worth living, to bring glory to God. And now through my studies, through orchestra, through building community at lunch or dinner, I am trying my best to serve the Lord and honor Him in everything. Even the things that seem meaningless in the grand scheme of things have meaning. Everything says something about who you are as a person and who you’re trying to become. So be the person who you’re going to be, today. In the end, it will all be worth it.