Life after Graduation ☮

Third Semester After Declaring Major- week 6
Question:

Research some of the options before you as a Religious Studies/Theology major (for example, careers, volunteer opportunities, graduate school programs). Describe the skills that each of these options seem to require and discuss whether you think the Loras program has helped you develop those skills. In the course of your answer, talk about your own plans for using this major.

Answer:

Most of the youth/ campus ministry jobs that I have looked at require a undergrad or a masters in Religious Studies or Theology. All of them also say they are looking for passion, organization, drive, knowledge and dedication. They also say that they are looking for 2-5 years of experience. The Loras program does provide for some of these. Through all of my classes I am gaining enormous amounts of knowledge and everyday gives me more drive and dedication to work for Christ. I think that it would be good to have a class or two that digs in deeper, not an advanced gen ed just for RS majors, so that we do not have to stay on or just below surface level. I have always had passion for faith there are some days when it waves a little but I with my two scripture classes this semester I am always reminded of why I am on this journey.

My second option that I am looking into for after graduation is peace activism, community life, social justice and or religious life. I have thought about grad school for both youth ministry and social justice but I have the strong desire to get out and do something bigger than school for a bit. With social justice most communities are starting to encourage people to have a undergrad degree in anything. It has been a struggle for me to find great significance in school sometimes because I want to go out in the world and start working. But through prayer and continues research and education I can see that the the undergrad degree isn't just about the classes. It is about the people, the jobs, the organizations, and the social experience that you can get nowhere else. The RS department has helped me through all of this because I view my life purpose as serving God's people and spread Christ's peace. Through all of my classes I have learned dedication to my work and my classmates, passion for gaining more knowledge so that when I go out into the "real world" I will be fully equip.

At this point in my life I am open to the direction of God. Wherever he wants me to serve I will go because I firmly believe that wherever God puts me He has a reason, it might not be clear in the beginning and there might be times I don't like it but in the end it is where I need to be. If I end up in a parish or in an order or in a Catholic Worker Community it is where I am supposed to be in order to serve God to my fullest. My religious studies degree will help me through all of this to give me passion, organization, drive, knowledge and dedication. ☮

My 1st Blog!

When asked why I am a Religious Studies major I respond, "Why not?" My whole life I have know that I want to work for God in some way. I thought about becoming a nun but I have not found the right order yet but I am still open to the idea. Now through my degree I want to do peace activism and youth ministry.

I think that parish life is an amazing ministry but I want to be able to live a somewhat nomadic life for a few years in community. Through my studies of different religions and the Catholic faith I have found that the connection between everyone is love and peace. After graduation interfaith peace communities work. I want that part of my life to flow over to parish life. I hope that I will be able to find a parish that is a Just Faith parish or even an ordered parish that draws near to St. Francis and Non violence.

So far I have really enjoyed my Catholic Social Teaching class along with my Catholic Identity course; Priest, Minister, Rabbi. I like these two classes for different reasons. I grew from Dr. Shadle’s Catholic Social Teaching class because all the encyclicals we had to read. They gave me a firm affirmation of my beliefs along with challenges that helped me grow. Dr. Pitt’s class Priest, Miniter, Rabbi was another great class for me. I really enjoyed seeing the connections between the three traditions along with trying to understand the differences.

Overall my major is going well so far. I have learned a lot from my classes and I am looking forward to diving in deeper.