I went to the University of Wisconsin at Whitewater, from 2005-2009, graduating with a 3.62 GPA, majoring in Spanish, minoring in Geography. I was fully fluent at the time.
The reason I went was on this wise:
I was 26 years old, had a pretty weak work history of bouncing from job to job. At the time, I was working for a brother in the Lord who owned his own painting business.
Realizing that if I wanted to really have a career and make a future of myself, I would need a degree.
I drove over to Whitewater, to the campus, and as I drove around, praying to the Lord about it, the Spirit nudged me to park in one of the lots. After doing so, the Lord spoke to me in a way that had never happened before or since.
He said,
"Aaron, do you see all these people?" (There were many students walking about, going to and fro).
Out loud, I replied, "Yes, Lord."
He then said "They have never known me. Who will go?"
In tears, I replied "I will, Lord. Send me."
And within a couple of months I was living on campus, evangelizing at every opportunity. It was both the hardest, most miserable time of my life, and yet, the most rewarding, best experience of my life. Many people had a chance to hear the Gospel, including not just students, but also coworkers (I worked on campus), professors, even the janitor in my dorm (we did a weekly Bible study for a few months) and several responded (If memory serves 11 people received the Holy Spirit and/or were immersed in the name of the Lord Jesus). Of that number, not all are still faithful to God, unfortunately, but some are, praise the Lord!
In the summer before my junior year, I married. Life was very stressful and the toll it took on my new marriage was high. It was brutal, at times (I am still suffering various health problems that begin back then). Between working 20-30 hours a week, plus a very high credit load each semester, plus leading the student organization we created for the campus ministry, plus all the time studying and writing papers and doing labs, and etc., not to mention learning a new language, plus all the ministries at my local church I was either in charge of or was a part of, plus marriage life, I can say without any contradiction of the facts, that the price we paid, as it seemed then, was almost not worth it.
Many nights, it was only the words of the Lord in that parking lot, that kept me going.
And now, nearly 7 years later, I am some $40,000 in debt, but finally in a position to make my first payments on the biggest loan.
I look back at it all, and it was ABSOLUTELY worth it, because it was for Christ Jesus that I went. When I was accepted into the university, I vowed to the Lord "It doesn't matter if I ever get a career out of this, I go to win souls".
And by the grace of God, I did. But so far, I've not gotten a career in my field of study. But I don't really mind.
I say all that to say this:
Going to a four year collegiate institution MUST be a God thing, as the saying goes. You have to know for certain that it is God's will for you to go. The secular spirit and carnality of a university campus can choke the light and life right out of you, especially if you are not sent there by God. At my Alma Mater, there were several other Oneness Pentecostals going, and I tried to enlist them in our efforts, and they just wouldn't. They hid their light, tucked their tails, and flew under the radar the whole time, never once making an effort to be a part of what the Lord was doing. And yet, there were others who got on board, and the Lord used them and helped them mature and grow in wonderful ways.
With all that being said, I conclude with this:
Under any other circumstances, had God not spoken to me, I probably would have preferred to get a much less costly two year associates degree in some kind of trade (I like to tinker and fix and build, and work with my hands).
Now, I work at Walmart. It's the best job I've ever had. I make a pretty decent hourly wage. We have three children, six years old and under. Our marriage is going great, the Lord has blessed, and we can't complain. There is plenty of room for advancement, if I want it, too.
I am no longer fluent in Spanish. But for a time, I used to be, and headed up the Spanish ministry the church I used to be a part of began, and by the grace of God, I was allowed of the Lord to use my Spanish skills to minister to the very large Hispanic population in my area. God is good. He saved a whole lot of Spanish speaking people. In a couple cases, entire families came into the faith.
So, Originalist, this is what I would offer as advice:
Go on a drive or do whatever you do, to get yourself alone. Go there and pray. I mean go right to the campus you are considering attending, and have a genuine heart to heart with the Father. Listen closely for the voice of the Lord. If and when God speaks, obey Him without hesitation, worry, doubt, or wonder.
But until and unless He does, I personally would not do anything as drastic as jumping into a four year college environment to get a degree in whatever field. Rather, I'd go to a tech school and learn how to be a plumber, or an electrician, or mechanic, or etc.
A millwright, for example, can pretty much set their own wage, because nobody can do their job but them.
Anyways, I hope I helped you. I will be praying for you in this.
Peace and God bless,
Aaron
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