If you had asked me what I wanted to do with my life, I would have answered, maintain a consistent blog. Clearly I have failed at that, so I have since moved on to plan B, aerospace engineering where I would design awesome things that fly awesomely. At the beginning of the year, I was about 95% set on that, but I figured there was always a chance God could change my plan. Imagine that. Since last fall, that number had slid. God kept pushing me and showing me more of who I was. I've realized that engineering, although a great idea financially, may not fulfill me. This doubt has pushed my certainty to a really frustrating 50%... maybe.
What is taking up that other 50% (maybe)? Teaching. It's the only other thing I have ever considered doing, but I thought I was settled. It was a fun idea, but I'd settled on engineering. Only, that fun idea is becoming the doubt that I could be anywhere near as happy making things fly as imparting the knowledge of how that is even possible on others.
I understand more than ever that what I need to be happy is relationships, people. I love people. I don't care what is happening, but as long as friends are hanging out, I just want to be there. I'll do anything with my friends. I'll do anything for my friends. Same goes for my family. The only reason I ever even considered teaching was because of the phenomenal relationships I had with my teachers in high school. Two in particular I consider to be some of the most important people ever in my life and are integral to the person I am today. I know this need for relationships will be fulfilled by teaching, but I cannot be certain that engineering can do that as well.
So I guess that leaves me at plan C. I cannot change my major and graduate in four years, which I need to do for my scholarship, and I don't necessarily want to. Besides, I still don't even know which I'd rather do. Instead, my plan is to finish my Aerospace Engineering degree with a math minor. Assuming I get a job out of college, I'll work for two years, and by the end, I'll know what I want to do (hopefully). If I settle on engineering, I'll go back to school and get my masters. If I go with teaching, I'll do still that. If I teach, I want to teach high school physics and math, subjects I'll be well versed in from my undergrad. I'll go to a Concordia and do what it takes to become a teacher and get a master's degree. After that, I'd love to teach at my Lutheran HS, but I'll take any one that wants me. I like this plan. It leaves both options open, and I think having those years of engineering experience would be great for me if I decide to teach.
And what if God yet again steps in with something more to say? I guess that's plan D. Onwards.
It's really important to be open to God changing your plan. Excellent job, Tyler. He won't leave you hanging, you know? He's always got something coming, whether we want it or are ready for it or not. And always, somehow, it ends up all right.
ReplyDeleteI'm kind of in limbo right now with my job/education/etc., but some things are clearer than ever, and that makes me confident that the rest will become more clear as time wears on.
Also, my mom always told me, "Do what you love; the money will follow." Having lived that for a while now, I can vouch for its functionality. God gives you passions and gifts so you can use them.
And as a last side note, my high school physics teachers was one of my favorite people ever... and he was an engineer before he decided to teach. ;)
(I'm done preaching now.)