Every single time, without fail, when a Protestant Christian woman asks me, “So, what are your plans now that you’ve graduated from high school?”  I know that I am in for a loooong lecture.

I always tell them, “Well, I’m going to the University of Arizona this fall, and I plan to major in Journalism and minor in Environmental Science.”  This is a problem already because:
1)  The University of Arizona is a pretty hard commute and that means I’ll be moving out of my family’s house.
2)  Environmental Science =  tree hugger

“Oh, what do you plan on doing with that?”

“I would like to work for a magazine or the Associated Press.  I love science and I feel that Environmental Science will become increasingly important in the future.”

“You don’t want to stay home and be a mommy?”

“…. well, maybe some day.”

“So the University of Arizona, huh?  Won’t that be pretty expensive?”

“It will be, but education is an investment, not an expense.”

“Wouldn’t it be cheaper to stay at home and go to a community college for 2 years?”

“It would be, but I’ve already spent 2 years at a community college and I would like to try something new now.”

“You need to think about the stress that this will cause your parents.”

“It’s not like I’m going to an out of state school that is known for its really good journalism program.”

“Once you become an adult, you can never be a child again.”

I find all of this disturbing.  Most of these ladies would not voice these concerns if I were a boy, but because I am a girl, they feel that I need to stay at home and focus on preparing for a family.  Boys need to prepare for a family as much as girls do, and what better way to prepare than to grow up a little and get an education?

My mom has been arguing these same issues for a while now, but she is partially excused.  She’s my mom.  Today my mom came up and listened in while one lady was arguing with me.  The lady said, “College isn’t all that it’s cracked up to be.  I flew out to ASU from Indiana and I was all alone in a huge school.  Looking back, it was a mistake.  Those big universities aren’t all they’re cracked up to be.”

To my surprise, my mom started defending my want to go to a university.  I just sat there, kind of amazed.  I think she understands now.  I’m so proud of her!