Curriculum, career, and marriage

During college and in the years that immediately follow, many decisions are made that affect the rest of your life. The big ones are curriculum, career, and marriage.

Many colleges require freshmen to declare a major at the very beginning. In addition to this, the number of required core courses is decreasing at many schools. Consequently, students must make decisions earlier on the areas in which they will major. As you work through curriculum and career options, it is important to consult people in the fields you are considering. Think carefully about the questions you ask them. Find out how they decided on their own careers. What do they like most about their jobs? What do they like the least?

John McCutchen was a student in medical school and was training to become a heart surgeon. He had a long conversation with the chief heart surgeon in the medical school and discovered he was not suited for the lifestyle, which included the stress of emergency operations, long and unpredictable hours and serving patients who were dying. Instead, he became an outstanding orthopedic surgeon specializing in hip replacement. Emergencies are rare, and he is able to spend more consistent time with his family.

Very few jobs are exactly what they seem to be. Do not make big decisions based on assumptions until you have done some research and know for sure.

Marriage

If you are not married but you sense this is what God may want for you, let me encourage you to consistently pray for the Lord, in His time, to bring a godly person into your life as a spouse. If you are married, the first person you need to consult is your spouse.

To those of you who will become married, let me be blunt. Regardless of your spouse’s business background or financial aptitude, you must cultivate and seek their counsel. I have committed never to proceed with a financial decision in excess of $100 unless Danielle agrees and vice versa. There are additional benefits from seeking your spouse’s counsel:

1. It will preserve your relationship! The husband and wife should agree, because they will both experience the consequences of the decision. Even if their choice proves to be disastrous, their relationship remains intact. There are no grounds for an “I told you so” response.
2. It will honor your spouse and prepare them for the future. When a husband or wife seeks their spouse’s advice, they are actually communicating, “I love you. I respect you. I value your insight.” Consistently asking for advice also keeps your spouse informed of your true financial condition.