Christian Educators' Journal

Practice for the "real world"

by Grant Elgersma

Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien's commencement address to Harvard's Class of 2000 poignantly speaks to the perceived divergence between the work-a-day world and academia. A Harvard graduate himself, O'Brien talks about the difficulty he had finding his place in the "real world" after graduating, and makes fun of the fact that many of the lessons learned in college do not carry over into everyday reality.

What can you expect [when you get out of school]? Let me see, by your applause, who here wrote a thesis? (APPLAUSE) A lot of hard work, a lot of your blood went into that thesis… and no one is ever going to care. I wrote a thesis: Literary Progeria in the works of Flannery O'Connor and William Faulkner. Let's just say that, during my discussions with Pauly Shore, it doesn't come up much. For three years after graduation I kept my thesis in the glove compartment of my car so I could show it to a policeman in case I was pulled over. (ACT OUT) License, registration, cultural exploration of the Man Child in the Sound and the Fury…But let me assure you that the knowledge you've gained here at Harvard is a precious gift that will never leave you. Take it from me, your education is yours to keep forever. Why, many of you have read the Merchant of Florence, and that will inspire you when you travel to the island of Spain. Your knowledge of that problem they had with those people in Russia, or that guy in South America-you know, that guy-will enrich you for the rest of your life?

If such a difference between academic education and the harsh lessons of life is a reality for Harvard graduates, who (according to O'Brien) "are justifiably nervous about leaving the safe, comfortable world of Harvard Yard and hurling [themselves] headlong into the cold, harsh world of Harvard Grad School, a plum job at [their] father's firm, or a year abroad with a gold Amex card and then a plum job in [their] father's firm," then it is even a bigger problem for those coming out of Christian colleges.

Many students coming out of Christian colleges are filled with ideals about living in a community of faith, but can't seem to find such communities when they get to the "real world." Such ideals make a lot of sense on campus where structures are put in place to foster a sense of community. On campus, students live together, go to the same classes and listen to the same visiting campus speakers. But when these students graduate and are forced to find money to support themselves and a church that shares many of their values and friends who have a common vision, things get a little more complicated. In the face of this harsh reality, many students perhaps give up on the ideals of their college days and are apt to accept things as they are. Or maybe they just wish someone had prepared them for real world situations while they were still in school.

The aim of visionPractice is to offer such preparation for motivated, visionary college students who want to learn practical lessons for faithful living before they're put into a world with structures that are hostile to the Christian worldview. In order to supplement the classroom teaching of Christian colleges and universities, *cino hopes to develop an off-campus program that will allow college students the opportunity to complete a self-designed project, research practical career options, make contacts and analyze needs in their fields of calling. By engaging in constant prayer and developing a practical plan, students will discover a unique calling and a perspective that can be carried outside of the school setting.

Students will apply for a scholarship by presenting a specific project proposal. The project will allow them to gain experience and contacts in their field of interest. For example, an agriculture student might apply with a project to study urban gardening and how to take into account environmental factors while maximizing the food production in a small amount of space. During the semester of the off-campus experience, the students will live, eat, socialize and study in a community living space, with the idea that they will learn how to live inexpensively and comfortably with other people. Students will work on their various projects individually while coming together daily for intense prayer and bible study, developing trust with one another and discussing God's will for their lives as they prepare to graduate.

We will make use of on-site staff and network contacts to help students develop practical plans for what they will do after they graduate. These plans will help in the evaluation process, which will reflect what the students have learned about community living and about the importance of embracing their calling and tasks. Such plans will not always be traditional or secure and evaluation will not be based on restrictive standards of success (i.e. grades or end-result philosophy).

After the program, students should be able to go forward confidently as their valuable experience informs their vocational and lifestyle decisions beyond college. cino will continue to offer support to these students through the web site. cinoconnect and the magazine discussion board will also provide places of networking and interaction among students and mentors and among students who have similar interests. In addition, the site will offer a place for students to find moral support and publish material after graduation.

With the development of intentional communities around a particular purpose (ie. music, student ministry, healthcare, etc.), we anticipate that students who are interested in pursuing a calling in a similar area will complete their projects while living with that community and learning from members' experiences. But these students will not be the only ones to learn from the experience. It is our wish that the experiences of these students can be documented (either by video and/or web discussions) for their peers who remain in a classroom setting. In this way, more students will benefit from encountering the everyday challenges of trying to live obediently in all areas of life after college.

If you have any questions or suggestions regarding visionPractice, please contact us.