“This thing isn’t for everyone.”
When I got my Master’s degree in counseling, I recall the turmoil caused by the required course in statistics. As a math guy it was an easy class for me, but many of my classmates struggled and fussed and bemoaned the need for such torture. They wondered why they couldn’t just customize their program to do the counseling courses and bypass all the other silliness.
Me? I wanted to skip the thesis, not because I couldn’t do it but because I wanted to focus on more individual counseling sessions. I wasn’t concerned with research. I wanted to sharpen what I thought were useful skills.
The response, of course, was that a graduate degree represents something beyond professional training. It also means preparation to evaluate and eventually conduct research. And that means statistics and a thesis.
A graduate degree isn’t for everyone. That doesn’t mean it’s exclusive, that only certain people are entitled to achieve one. Anyone who wants to make the commitment, put in the time, make the sacrifice, and do the work can reach any level of education. But you don’t get to have it on your own terms.
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Most folks will tell you about their big dream. They’d like to write a book or ride a bike across the country or do mission work. However…and there’s so often a however…they want to skip the statistics course. They want to follow the dream, customized to their already busy life.
I don’t think it’s possible to have commitment without sacrifice.
I believe God inspired in each of us a desire to use our unique gifts and talents to serve others and change the world.
Following the dream requires risk, facing fear and moving forward, stepping in faith beyond your comfort zone. Those things cost you something. Some costs you can anticipate, some you can’t know until the journey begins. That’s why it’s called faith.
You should count the cost, because you have to commit and you have to sacrifice.
Perhaps it’s not for everyone, at least not right now. And that’s okay.
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