Most people deal with adults not taking their major seriously. However, this is so much worse for a ministry major. People don't think you can do it and they're constantly trying to get you to find a backup plan. What if you don't want a backup plan? What if you go through college facing these struggles anyway?
As a ministry student, you have to take a lot of classes with the same people. That's normal, right? However, at my school, there are only four classes specifically geared towards worship leadership. Almost everything else you have to take with this major is a music or ministry class. The problem with this is that both departments seem to be a little family and you're not invited. The first day of classes is like the family reunion where you're sitting in a corner like, "Hi, I'm socially awkward. How are you?"
None of your classes is in the same building. When most people get to their junior year, they are taking primarily classes for their major or minor. For example, I'm currently taking 17 credit hours and they consist of one music class, a Bible class that is comprised of mainly ministry students, and the rest are ministry classes. That makes it sound like most of my classes are in the same building right? Wrong. On a small campus, there are only so many buildings and so many classrooms. The ministry students get jilted on their space and have to share all of the academic buildings for classes. This means traveling across campus frequently. Good thing there's only ten minutes and no buses.
No one takes your major seriously, especially if you have a ministry minor. People are constantly saying things like, "What are you going to do with that," or "Wow, that's brave. I couldn't do that. You're brave." And, of course, the dreaded, "What will you do if that doesn't work? What's your backup plan? Shouldn't you have at least a business minor?" Gee, I don't know what I'm going to do, maybe work in a church, do ministry, and serve God? Maybe I don't need a back-up plan. Thanks, guys.
Not only do you have homework for days, as a music ministry major, you spend a good portion of time in the music building. All the people in the music department know you, and you spend so much time in the music building you feel like you never leave. Just the other day, the secretary for the music department and another student tried to find out if I had enough music credits for a minor. I don't. Not quite. But I'm close. Of course, we can't forget all those hours you spend in the practice rooms trying to hone your skills.
At the end of the day, you know it's worth it. All that time spent in the practice room just makes you a better musician. All those classes all around campus are worth it, even if it doesn't seem like it at the time. Even if it's zero degrees out and you have to trek across three feet of snow at 8 o'clock in the morning. Your perseverance and struggles will make you stronger in the end. People may not take you seriously, but you get to spend your life doing what God has called you to do.
