Christ Cries: “Mine!” - Graduation and Beyond
Written by Mrs. Kati Davis
Whatever man may stand, whatever he may do, to whatever he may apply his hand – in agriculture, in commerce, and in industry, or his mind, in the world of art, and science – he is, in whatsoever it may be, constantly standing before the face of God. He is employed in the service of his God. -Abraham Kuyper
As we stand alongside our children, and we look to the future, there is excitement, anticipation, and perhaps trepidation as we contemplate next steps and what the future may hold. Even as we partner together as parents and school, striving to cultivate generations of joyful disciples of Christ, rooted in Truth, to the glory of God, we ask ourselves: what does this look like for each of these precious and uniquely designed image bearers? Our seniors are stepping into the year of their graduation, an exciting time of transition, and looking forward to what God has in store for them. Our juniors are also on the cusp, starting to explore possible options and plan for the future. Often society points to one definition of success and one path forward. As we are called to steward the unique giftings of our youth, we know that there are many paths forward and there are many options and opportunities that are not one-size-fits-all. Many years ago, we walked our own path of graduating and looking forward to what the future held. We know that God had things in store for us that we could not have foreseen, and many of us are on much different paths than what we would have predicted all those years ago. God will work in each life as our children identify and grow the gifts God has given them. As we consider opportunities beyond their years at Summit, we can dive into a few possibilities for post-high school. Some of these include gap years, trade schools, or 4-year colleges.
Gap Year
As my daughters finished high school, one option we looked into was the possibility of taking a gap year. For many, an additional year to explore possibilities without locking into a 4-year college right away can be a wonderful option. Gap years might involve travel, working to raise money, and even online or short term school options. Often overlooked are Bible Schools that offer intensive one- year programs. Several Christian Universities offering this option are Emmaus Bible College, The Masters University, and Wheaton . Others with a solid theological base include Capernwray Bible School, Youth with a Mission (YWAM), Torchbearers International, and others with specific emphasis in specialities such as wilderness adventures or medical missions (Adventure Bible School, Onelife Institute, or Montana Wilderness School of the Bible). Often we get stuck thinking there is only one route after high school, while in actuality there are many paths forward, including taking a gap year.
Trade Schools
As I met with one of our juniors this month, I was reminded again that there is not one right direction to go after graduating. This young man lit up when he talked about pursuing his passion for metalworking. Even as a junior he is already well on his way to making his dream a reality. He went on to tell me about his shop and the tools he was already using to develop his skills. His excitement was palpable and it was an important reminder that God will use each of us right where we are planted. If our students are expressing passion in certain areas, then part of our responsibility is to find and create opportunities to help them develop these gifts. We may feel that they are “missing out”, if they don’t go a certain route, and yet that is not for us to know. A wise mentor once asked, “What makes your heart sing? What makes you excited to get up in the morning?” May we ask the same thing of our young people! And if they have things that inspire them, may we remember that God knows the big picture in a way that we cannot. Trade schools, community colleges with specialized programs, and apprenticeships can all be powerful options to pursue after high school.
College
Finally, the 4-year college option provides many possible paths forward. Would this student thrive in a large research university with the opportunities it offers, or would they do better in a small private liberal arts college? Should it be a conservative Christian school or might they serve the kingdom better in a secular setting? We have pointed our students to several resources to begin this exploration, including Niche and
College Board. Junior year is a good time to begin visiting schools. We used spring break junior year to explore options for our twins. It resulted in my daughters determining that they would thrive at smaller schools and allowed them to narrow down which to pursue. When decision time came, one was certain while the other wasn’t. The latter ended up picking one we would not have chosen for her. While we didn’t know the right answers, we knew God would lead them both where He intended. Fast forward a few years, and the one we thought might have made the wrong choice is thriving in her university, growing in her faith, and excited for the path she has chosen. The other knows that she was placed exactly where she was supposed to be her first two years of college, but is considering transferring to another school and program altogether as she feels God calling her in a different direction. None of this is what we would have predicted, and still we trust God with it all. Even in the college options, there are many paths forward, which encourages us to continually release our children to Him.
As God entrusted our children to us to guide and disciple, I am reminded of Psalm 119:105 “Thy word is a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path.” Only through following him in obedience can we find the path forward in raising our children. While the college decision can feel stressful and high-stakes, there is great peace in knowing that our children are in his hands. As parents and students make the best possible choices we can with our limited knowledge, we know that the God of the Universe is in charge! What a blessed assurance! In the words of Kuyper again, “there is not a square inch in the whole domain of our human existence over which Christ, who is Sovereign over all, does not cry: ‘Mine!’” Take encouragement in knowing that Christ cries, “Mine!” over our children.