Why My Degree is Just a Piece of Paper

"You know, we're going to have an opening on our teaching team next year," my co-worker meaningfully implied as she waggled her eyebrows at me. "Ahh, hmm," I answered, trying to sound mildly interested but still non-committal.

The truth is, I don't want to teach in a traditional classroom anymore. I tried it (for over three years) and found that I was missing the fulfillment I was looking for in a (lower-case v) vocation, even though I enjoyed my job most of the time. Some teachers are called to teach for their entire lives; I am not one of them. But despite my excellent decision making capabilities, many people still believe that I'm wasting my skills with jobs that are below me (whatever that means).

Yes, I went to a four-year university. I got my teaching credential. I completed a grueling two-year Master's program. I moved out of state, I taught 3rd grade. I was good at it. I did everything I was "supposed" to do exactly when I was supposed to do it. Then I realized I wasn't completely happy. I realized that I don't have to live my life by society's dictation. I realized that true success has little to do with actually succeeding all the time. Here are some other things I realized:

1. Your position in life does not have to be a stepping stone. Why is it that every professional I meet seems to think I do what I do until I find something "better"? Why is it assumed that a lower paying job or a title with less prestige is totally undesirable? Why the fixation on always moving up, and up, and up? Honest work is not a placeholder. It's necessary and valuable and if you enjoy it then that is enough.

2. Your position in life doesn't equate to your worthiness. Maybe you're a student, a minimum wage worker, a professional, a caretaker, or jobless. Either way, not a fraction of your position detracts from your worth, and neither does it add to it. Let me say that again. No matter what you're doing with your life right now, whether you're working 40+ hours a week, making the big bucks, failing half your classes, or feel like you're wasting away behind a desk or a register, Jesus loves you like crazy. Your worth is through Him. No job, no degree, no amount of work or notoriety (or lack of the aforementioned) is going to change that. What a freeing feeling, right?

3. Your work has meaning if you entrust it to Jesus. Let's say you have two people doing exactly the same work, but one is living for Jesus and the other is not. The first person sees it as nothing more than a job and doesn't seek to find the divine among their tasks. The second person knows that God has called them to this (whether permanently or temporarily) and constantly looks for opportunities to devote their work to Him. With the second type of attitude, it's so much easier to see that you and your contributions are of vital importance. Even the most seemingly insignificant or mundane tasks can then have great meaning!*

But, time for a reality check. Ask yourself the following two questions: Am I doing honest and good work? Am I doing the best that I can? In other words, are my job and/or pastimes contributing to my success or to the wellbeing of others in a way that is positive and not negative? Am I putting my mind and heart into it rather than being lazy or just getting by on the minimum? If you can answer yes to those two questions, then you're golden. Don't put yourself down for not graduating on time, or working at McDonalds, or getting a 2.79 GPA, or not using the degree you worked so hard to get (cough, ahem). You are enough. just. as. you. are.

Bottom line:

Our world is so focused on externals. Success, money, and titles hold way more sway over our lives and emotions than we realize or even care to admit. It's wearying and soul-destroying and we need to change our way of thinking. Jesus is the true breath of life. In Him we find our worth and our strength and our beauty and our hope. Don't exhaust yourself with overthinking. Don't stress yourself out when your two- and five- and ten-year plans don't develop. Don't put yourself down when you feel like you fail to measure up to whatever false standard the world says you should meet. Work hard, of course. Better yourself, yes. But don't place your value as a person and your life's happiness on something so temporary and impersonal as a degree, job, or position.

In the end, my Master's degree is just a piece of paper. I'm not going to take it with me to heaven, and once I get there, I know I'll never care about it again. When you come face-to-face with our Creator, He won't ask about your salary, job title, or GPA. But He will ask if you worked hard with the time He gave you and did good to those you encountered. If you can answer yes, then that is real success.

*Thanks to my amazing friend Laura for sharing her thoughts on this!