We live in a generation in which our educational paths are ridiculed and judged to the extent that what we choose to pursue, and what interests us, becomes a focus for how people react to us, and what impression they choose to have of us.
I consider myself very lucky that I wanted to go to university to continue my studies into a higher education level, but unfortunately, and I could probably dedicate an entirely separate blog post to this, not everyone is very passionate about their choice of study when they are encouraged (forced) into it by their school. I feel lucky that by the time sixth form had come to an end, I was more assured than ever that my choice to do a degree in theology was right for me.
But oh boy do people like to tell me different...
For some reason, for which I am baffled to find, people like to rank university courses and condemn those who do something that may not fall into their idea of a 'useful' degree. I hold my hands up to the fact that theology is fairly niche, and unless I explain to people that it's like 'R.E. but at a higher level', some don't even know what it is. The follow up questions are always the same too. Why are you doing that? What job are you going to get out of it? etc. I'm beginning to think that if you don't take English, Maths, Medicine, or any other more recognisable course title, society immediately puts you on the 'useless degree, probably unemployable' pile. I'm here to tell you that that is not the case at all.
I chose to study theology for many different reasons, all of which were decided by myself, in order to give myself the best experience at uni that I could provide for myself. Without considering career prospects or my future beyond doing my degree, I knew that matters of religion was something I held very highly in my interests, and R.E. was a subject I thoroughly enjoyed throughout both my GCSE and A Level courses. As a teenager, you feel obliged to have a negative attitude towards school, and of course I did at times, but I always looked forward to R.E. lessons and actually ENJOYED doing work for it. I even read around the subject more than was required of me. This interest was something I couldn't ignore when choosing my uni course. If I was going to be studying something in-depth for at least three years of my life, I'd rather it be something I thoroughly enjoyed and had passion for, otherwise, what's the point in even going?
Now onto that 'taboo' topic of career. I've heard all of the 'are you gonna be a nun lol' jokes, as have all the guys on my course heard the same jokes regarding priesthood. Just to put it out there, if someone wants to study theology in order to start their process of being ordained as a nun or priest then that is totally fine, and even though that's not the path I wish to take, I'd be pretty offended if someone made a joke about it and that actually was my intention when I chose my course. If someone said to me 'I'm doing a course in memes so I can be the first to see the fresh memes and create some myself', I'd think hell yeah, go you. No one has literally any place to judge what someone else is doing with their life.
Personally, I knew even before I chose theology, that I wanted to be some sort of a published writer. I mean, here I am writing on my new, mediocre blog just so I have the freedom to write and share it with people. What theology has done for me, is given me the topic that should be the focus of my writing in the future. I want to start new discussions about religion that do not happen enough in our society today, and invite people to understand religions that they have never been introduced to before, without trying to convert them or sway their own opinions.
If I can, I'd love to lecture or teach about religion, and share my ideas and theories o that they may become topics that are covered in theology lectures in the future. I have drive and I have passion for my subject, and whether it falls under the normal social umbrella for what constitutes as a useful, employable degree, I have faith in myself and my course that what I am learning about is worthwhile for myself, and for those I will eventually pass my knowledge onto.
That's why I study theology.
H x
I consider myself very lucky that I wanted to go to university to continue my studies into a higher education level, but unfortunately, and I could probably dedicate an entirely separate blog post to this, not everyone is very passionate about their choice of study when they are encouraged (forced) into it by their school. I feel lucky that by the time sixth form had come to an end, I was more assured than ever that my choice to do a degree in theology was right for me.
But oh boy do people like to tell me different...
For some reason, for which I am baffled to find, people like to rank university courses and condemn those who do something that may not fall into their idea of a 'useful' degree. I hold my hands up to the fact that theology is fairly niche, and unless I explain to people that it's like 'R.E. but at a higher level', some don't even know what it is. The follow up questions are always the same too. Why are you doing that? What job are you going to get out of it? etc. I'm beginning to think that if you don't take English, Maths, Medicine, or any other more recognisable course title, society immediately puts you on the 'useless degree, probably unemployable' pile. I'm here to tell you that that is not the case at all.
I chose to study theology for many different reasons, all of which were decided by myself, in order to give myself the best experience at uni that I could provide for myself. Without considering career prospects or my future beyond doing my degree, I knew that matters of religion was something I held very highly in my interests, and R.E. was a subject I thoroughly enjoyed throughout both my GCSE and A Level courses. As a teenager, you feel obliged to have a negative attitude towards school, and of course I did at times, but I always looked forward to R.E. lessons and actually ENJOYED doing work for it. I even read around the subject more than was required of me. This interest was something I couldn't ignore when choosing my uni course. If I was going to be studying something in-depth for at least three years of my life, I'd rather it be something I thoroughly enjoyed and had passion for, otherwise, what's the point in even going?
Now onto that 'taboo' topic of career. I've heard all of the 'are you gonna be a nun lol' jokes, as have all the guys on my course heard the same jokes regarding priesthood. Just to put it out there, if someone wants to study theology in order to start their process of being ordained as a nun or priest then that is totally fine, and even though that's not the path I wish to take, I'd be pretty offended if someone made a joke about it and that actually was my intention when I chose my course. If someone said to me 'I'm doing a course in memes so I can be the first to see the fresh memes and create some myself', I'd think hell yeah, go you. No one has literally any place to judge what someone else is doing with their life.
Personally, I knew even before I chose theology, that I wanted to be some sort of a published writer. I mean, here I am writing on my new, mediocre blog just so I have the freedom to write and share it with people. What theology has done for me, is given me the topic that should be the focus of my writing in the future. I want to start new discussions about religion that do not happen enough in our society today, and invite people to understand religions that they have never been introduced to before, without trying to convert them or sway their own opinions.
If I can, I'd love to lecture or teach about religion, and share my ideas and theories o that they may become topics that are covered in theology lectures in the future. I have drive and I have passion for my subject, and whether it falls under the normal social umbrella for what constitutes as a useful, employable degree, I have faith in myself and my course that what I am learning about is worthwhile for myself, and for those I will eventually pass my knowledge onto.
That's why I study theology.
H x
Comments
Post a Comment