Work & School Changes

Because what kind of ME would I be if I didn't change my mind at least once since arriving, right? ;)

First off, I can't remember if I wrote in a previous post whether or not Brent got a job at Arvest Bank, but Brent got a job at Arvest Bank. He's been training this entire week and just found out yesterday that he'll be getting full-time with benefits! This is fantastic news of course, and we feel very blessed and are excited for him to be done with training next week and to start working his normal schedule. I on the other hand ended up going back to my original decision and that was to attend school full-time and not work.

It's been no secret that I really don't enjoy working. I get bored with routine, task-oriented environments very quickly, and I always want more variety and more people. Not to mention the fact that I feel like work just cuts into my creative and social time. (I'm an ENFP, what do you expect?) I've also always wanted to finish my education so that I can one day work in a career field that I actually enjoyed. Even if I didn't end up working, it'd be nice just to know that I accomplished something; that I had something to fall back on just in case we ever needed two incomes; or just to have added knowledge to fuel my creative goals and my personal ministry (which I care more about than having an actual career anyway). I had originally planned on going to Rhema in the morning and taking classes in the afternoon at a local university, but at the time I felt planning for the other school was becoming distracting from our reason in moving to begin with. So I threw it out and decided to just go to Bible school and work.

We got to Broken Arrow, and I got a job the second day we were here. Awesome! I could tell after my first day, however, that it wasn't going to work out. Nothing to do with the people - they were all awesome and they seemed to enjoy having me there. It was just the nature of the job itself. While I really wanted to be disciplined and diligent and stick to this job to prove to both myself that I could do it and to everybody else that I was capable of holding a job for more than six months (though the longest job I've ever had was 18 months), the truth is...I just didn't care about it, and I'm at a point where I no longer want or need to do things I don't care about. I could tell from day one that I'd be bored out of my mind by day two, and I was right. For me, spending the majority of my week's time somewhere that I don't enjoy and have no opportunity for personal growth at just for a paycheck isn't worth it, whether we need the money or not.

*Warning* Motivational speech ahead!

Some people can work a job they don't enjoy because they know they have to (like my mom and mother-in-law), and I applaud them for that. Others can work a boring job because the hours and the pay are great, and that's awesome too. We need people to work jobs, and there are people who want to work those jobs. People have different personalities, giftings, talents, interests and abilities and we all need to embrace our own and let others do the same, being thankful for those who have different perspectives and ways of doing things other than the way we do. They can contribute something we can't, just as we can contribute something that they can't. None of it's wrong; it's just different, and it's the way we were created - it's for a purpose! The way I see it, there will always be another job or more money that can be made...but I can't get back my time, so I'm not going to do something that I don't care about or that's taking time away from me being able to do things that I do care about. I don't want to work somewhere that doesn't excite my soul. Again, I'm an ENFP. We like our souls to be excited ones. (This ENFP link was different from the last one, just in case you were interested. From this link, you can find out awesome information about all of the Myers'-Briggs 16 different personality types. I live for that kind of stuff...it's super accurate and is the most widely used personality test to date since its formation in the early 1900s.)

OK...motivational speech over.

Anyway, I knew I needed to do something because we needed income...but what?!

Well, wouldn't you know it, there's an accredited university in Bethany, OK that has a Tulsa campus! And wouldn't you know it, that campus not only happens to have one of my three degrees of choice, but I can get that degree in 18 months! And, by golly, wouldn't you know it, the school just so happens to be located at Rhema's campus right across the street from where we live! And gee willickers, wouldn't you know it...I can get financial aid too.

Sold.

I start class next week at Southwestern Christian University's Tulsa campus across the street. I'll be getting my B.S. in Human & Family Studies, and from there can get my M.A. in Counseling or Social Work. I chatted with my boss when I decided what I was going to do, and even though I wasn't able to put in a two-week notice, everything ended just fine and she completely understood. Brent's going to begin classes at SCU as well in January (he'll be keeping his job, though). He's going to pursue his bachelors in Biblical Leadership, and from there would like to get his masters in Christian Education.

Now, I might end up getting a little part-time job at some point just to have some extra spending money, but if I do it's only going to be like, 10 hours a week. I want to focus on God, my marriage, school, my writing, and my own personal growth right now, so that's what I'm going to do. Brent's very supportive of my decision and we're excited to see what God has in store for us!

Finally, I realize that some of what I've said here might sound like I'm making excuses, being unrealistic, or that I'm being lazy or selfish. If you think that's the case, you are more than welcome to continue thinking that way, free from any judgment or defense on my part. I'm not going to force you, or even ask you to agree with my decision or change your opinion on it. All I ask is that you respect mine and my husband's choice in making it, as it was our decision for us. As I mentioned in a previous blog post, I didn't care much about what people would think of me not obtaining a "real" degree, and I don't care much about what people think of me not wanting to work right now, either. Now, on the flip side, if I have kids one day and they're being neglected because their dad's working 80 hours a week to support his starving-artist wife, then feel free to contact social services, or at least call me out on a few things. Either way, those kids need attention! ;)

Have a blessed day!

P.S. - I'm very excited for and proud of my mom, who has also decided to attend school this semester! New adventures for everyone!