Oklahoma Baptist Bison, like in so many other institutions of higher learning, are confronted with image of successful young adults just four years and a degree later leaving their respective universities with smiles on their faces. But what if that is not always the case?
A large portion of college students only think of the typical path in higher education, but they might be surprised how often that way does not work out. The expected norm for many recent high school graduates is to attend a four year school the following fall and earn a bachelor’s degree in the discipline of their choice.
Lauren Neville is a former student and spent three years at OBU as a Family and Community Service major. She spoke her feelings about the traditional avenue for earning a degree.
“I think there’s definitely a stigma. I feel like especially in the Bible Belt, you’re supposed to graduate and you’re supposed to go to college, and you’re supposed to go to college for four years and you’re supposed to meet the love of your life at college, and you’re supposed to get married right after college and you’re supposed to get a job and find a church and it’s like a checklist”
Becca Crocker is another former OBU student who falls into the “atypical” category. She was a Creative Writing and Anthropology double major during her three semesters on Bison Hill. She built on Neville’s sentiment.
“But when you don’t do that, it almost feels like you’re wrong. You’re not doing it right, like how it’s supposed to go. I feel like sometimes that’s how people look at it, like you’re a failure. ‘Oh, you’re not in school anymore? What a loser.’”
Both Neville and Crocker have responded in positive ways despite any antagonistic responses.
“It hasn’t been something that I’ve noticed every day. I think mainly because my parents aren’t super judgmental. Eventually they do want me to go back to school, but because they aren’t angry or judgmental about it I think that has negated any negative reactions that I’ve gotten about not being in school. If I’m happy with where I’m at in life, and my parents are okay with it, then I feel like everyone else doesn’t really matter,” Crocker said.
The two former students left college for both personal and economic reasons.
“I will never regret leaving OBU at the time I did” Neville said. “That was definitely the right call. I paid for my own school, and so I was working to pay for the school that I wasn’t able to study for because I was working so much. It was a cycle that just dragged me down.”
There was more to their time in college than debt and work, however; there were bright spots.
“The people that I met while I was at OBU were the best things that came out of it. The friends that I made while I was here, and the professors, I kept relationships with some of the professors and those relationships were really meaningful” Neville said.
Crocker echoed similar thoughts on each issue.
Both are in self-described “transition phases,” and are working on saving money.
“I’m working, trying to figure out what I want to do with the next phase of my life, figure out where I want to go. I do want to go back to school, so saving is a part of that.” Crocker said.
They are satisfied with their current stages in life and believe others should be thinking about different possibilities post-high school as well.
“A lot of people end up finding something they want to do that they didn’t need a bachelor’s for” Neville said. But then they’re saddled with all the debt they took out pursuing it.”
Crocker concluded with her thoughts which she applies to life as well as higher education.
“You can’t change the situation. You can’t change people. If you don’t want to change yourself then remove yourself from the situation.”
