Lately I’ve been thinking about why we are here. Why choose a Christian education? What does a Houghton education have to offer us that other schools do not? Finally, is it worth the cost?
My short answer is “Yes, it’s worth the cost.” Real shocker, I’m sure. This may sound a little obvious, coming from a person who spent a few years being homeschooled, went to a private Christian middle and high school, and then ended up here. What else am I going to say, right?
Well, it’s not that simple. I have seen a lot of things that turn me off in all the Christian institutions that I’ve attended. There are major flaws in all of them, and I can think of reasons for anyone in my shoes to say, “It’s not worth it” and walk away. I think a lot of people at Houghton have at some point thought those very words. So why do I still think it’s worth it?
For one, you will find flaws in every single institution, whether Christian or secular. Being a Christian institution doesn’t make Houghton automatically better, but does mean that it should be different. It means that our school and other Christian institutions should foster a culture of grace. I have seen so many people in leadership positions at Houghton and in other Christian schools react to mistakes in an extremely merciful way. When problems come up, as they undoubtedly will, having administrators and leaders that model a forgiving, graceful attitude makes a huge difference.
To provide some more context, I’m a junior education major. This means that I’ve spent a lot of time in many different high schools, most of them secular. The teachers I have observed have a range of different mindsets. The first time I saw a group of teachers complaining about their students to each other during lunch made a big impression on me. Pro tip: avoid being the only person in the room that isn’t trash-talking students, because it is very uncomfortable. That experience has helped me to better appreciate the amazing teachers and professors that I’ve had at Houghton.
This has also solidified in my mind the importance of carrying my faith into the places I go. Certainly, not every secular public school has a negative attitude toward students, nor is this attitude completely removed from Christian schools. Everyone has their bad days. But the attitude of teachers will influence the students. Thankfully, in my experience, Christian school teachers and professors have not shown that same destructive attitude. At a college like Houghton, it is vital to foster a positive and encouraging attitude. I’ve seen a lot of amazing examples of this in my time here, and I believe it stems from shared faith and values. The community created by our Christian faith is a big reason that education at Houghton is so meaningful to me.
These two examples that I mentioned—a culture of forgiveness and an encouraging, Christ-centered environment—are built not only by teachers, but also by the students. Especially since we live on campus, we play a vital role in cultivating these important parts of our community. We can each be more understanding when problems arise. We can be encouraging rather than always focusing on the negatives. We can remember how privileged we are to be here. I know there are many things to argue, to debate, and to question. But if you ask me whether a Christian education is worth it, I’ll say yes every time. I hope that you’ll do the same.
Gena is a junior majoring in adolescent education and English with an art minor.