"I do have some news...my daughter who previously didn't want to hear a thing about going to college is now on the internet researching scholarships and gearing up to study to take the SAT in November (I think that's the next time they are offering it here.)  She has even asked me to BUY her a Saxon Algebra text so she can "brush up" on her math skills.

This points at a VERY important point that many of my students failed to consider and we all need to consider carefully when time for college comes around. DOES THE STUDENT WANT TO GO? Intelligence and educational background are very important for success in college. But there is one thing that is possibly even more important. Does the student want to be there and put forth the effort to succeed. 

I see this problem every single semester in practically every single class I teach. We have people who could very easily succeed in my class or college in general but who are not willing to do the work necessary to succeed. Our Intermediate Algebra class is nothing more than a high school algebra class. Yet we have anywhere from 50-70% fail the class or drop every semester. For most of them it was their attitude and unwillingness to work. They don't see why they have to be in that class. The same thing holds for college in general. Many students are in college for reasons such as "my parents made me go", "it was just always assumed I'd go to college", "I don't want to have to go get a job" and the like. Many of those students do not succeed. 

And believe me, I know what I'm talking about because I was one of those students. I had a full academic scholarship to Southern Methodist University. I had high SAT scores and a good high school record and background. I had a 3.825 grade point average my first semester. But my second semester my grade point was 1.825. My third semester I dropped out of school. No one ever questioned my ability to succeed in college. There were, however, serious questions about why I was there. I just didn't have college high enough on my priority list for it to get the amount of effort it needed. 

I did eventually go back to school, then graduate school and now I'm teaching at a university. Interestingly, during my research for my doctoral dissertation I read several papers by the man I had for Calculus 2 during the semester I had the 1.825 GPA. I contacted him to see if he remembered me. He looked back into his records and recalled a person who definitely "could" do it, but "wouldn't." 

I should mention that during the time between failure and success in college I gave my life to the LORD. Obviously that had a lot to do with things.  That rearranged my priorities.

Another thing to consider is that not everyone is called to things that require college. College is not necessary for being a plumber, electrician, carpenter, auto mechanic or any number of other perfectly respectable professions. Just because someone is smart does not necessarily mean they need to go to college or are called to do so. I wouldn't object if I found out that my plumber has a higher IQ than I do. If God's call on a young lady's life is that of full-time home mommy then college might not be part of that call. It might, but it might not.

To sum all of this up, as in everything, we need to pray about God's will for our children's lives and encourage them to do the same. I suspect we all want our kids to go to college. But higher on our list should be seeking the assurance that they are in the center of God's will. With Robin's daughter it appears that this is what has happened. Pray about it, walk in obedience and let God deal with the details.


Fred Worth
Professor, Department of Mathematics
Henderson State University
Arkadelphia AR 71999-0001
worthf@hsu.edu
870-230-5079
http://www.hsu.edu/faculty/worthf