Its finals week and I, along with all of my classmates, are scrambling around trying to finish our final projects, put together our final presentations, and study for our final exams.
I question, why am I doing this to myself? Putting my body through this mental, physical and emotional stress. It’s insane.
Why do I want that piece of paper that will say that I have a bachelor’s degree in Nutrition and Dietetics? I could just quit right now and work and not worry about a test ever again.
But then I realize. This work I am putting in isn’t for a pretty paycheck one day. It isn’t for my mental, physical, and emotional health.
My degree is not for me at all.
My degree is for the future.
It’s for the health and well-being of the future generations of children. It’s for the health of future athletes. It could be the cure for diabetes, hypertension, and many chronic illnesses.
My degree is for everyone but me.
My degree is for my family. So I can help them maintain a healthy lifestyle.
My degree is for God. It’s not about what my degree can do for me, it about what he can do through me.
I will not be remembered for my diploma, but the difference I can make in the lives of others.
During finals week we forget what we are truly working toward. We are so preoccupied chasing that grade and focused on just passing the class that school no longer is about learning, it about getting the grade.
I thank God for the opportunity for my education, for my opportunity to make a difference, and for the opportunity to love and take care of his children.
This is Gods training for me to love more, listen openly, and heal people.
My degree is just opening a door for God to work through me.
There will be many other finals to come but not on pen and paper. The final that matters is what I can do when I have a parent lying to my face about what they are feeding their children, what I will do when I have a teenager starving herself because she wants to look like the girl in the magazine.
My degree is not for me; My degree is for them. My degree is for him.
In 6 short months I will walk across a stage and be handed a piece of paper and THAT is the beginning of finals week.
