Across the United States, young people and their families are asking about their first step after high school. What is college for? Should I get a job right away? Go to trade school? Knock out my gen-eds?
The questions are primarily motivated by two factors: First, money. Second, the absolute abdication of anything resembling formation in most colleges and universities. Faithful Catholic families are caught in the middle. Oftentimes they are generous in their openness to life, simplicity and service to their churches and communities; this is a recipe for a tight budget.
I was raised in a single-income family of seven children and a stay-at-home mom. I never went to Disney World, and yet somehow I find some shreds of happiness in my life.
I was privileged to receive an education in philosophy and Catholic studies through a combination of scholarships, federal aid and a few generous people who helped me at various points of need. I don’t know what I would be like without this formation.
Now, as a professor of Catholic studies at the University of Mary in Bismarck, North Dakota, I wake up and walk to class truly humbled and joyful that I get to pass down timeless truths of the Western, Catholic tradition, which helped bring sanctity and civilization into the world.
You need answers
It is an inestimable blessing that I am able to guide students through the deepest questions of life in the core curriculum and Catholic studies program at the University of Mary. Most students say they’re in college because of jobs, making money, family, etc. Very few think they need personal formation to address central questions of infinite importance: Who am I? Where did I come from? Where am I going?
I tell them it behooves them to think about these things and to have solid answers that have stood the test of time, that unite them to something larger than themselves and that transcend obvious obstacles like death, failure and individualistic, lazy nihilism.
You need formation
They might not want to think about these things, but someone out there is coming up with a plan for their lives whether they know it or not. All around the country, young people are in colleges and universities that are advancing various answers to those questions which are fundamentally at odds with the Catholic, Christian and traditional human way of thinking.
We often think of the political sphere as the place where these things are debated, but more pertinently it is the home, the phone, the school, the parish and our social circles where we are subtly — or not so subtly — fed a vision of life that is destructive to all that civilization and sanctity demand. With what will you defend yourself and your family? Professions and jobs are good, but why are you doing it all? Why are you building that bridge? Whither do you lead your family? It turns out there is a formation that is needed to withstand someone else answering those questions for you.
