Educated Women

My parents raised their children with an unspoken expectation that we would seek higher education and even receive degrees.  Two weeks before my last semester of finals, I gave birth to my first son, nearly two months premature. With determination to finish my education, I spoke to my professors to rearrange what finals I could.  My parenting class instructor basically said, "You just took the test!"   And thus began my motherhood journey.

And yet, I would say that is also when my "real" education began.  During my final year of college and my first few years of motherhood I suddenly found myself thirsty for more knowledge.  Whatever the subject, I wanted to know more!  I was especially keen on reading more about parenting and figuring out what I wanted my family culture to look like.  Those first couple of months home with my son I read 13 books!  People have asked, "What else did you do?"  Nothing!  I just read ravenously.  (How I'd love to do that again!)

Fast forward several years (and several kids) later.  In October 2012 we heard President Thomas S. Monson announce that “able, worthy, young women who have the desire to serve may be recommended for service beginning at age 19 instead of 21.” 

More recently, it was then again announced that young women may begin their service at the age of 18. 

I must admit, (sheepishly, I’ll add!), when the missionary age for young women changed to 19 I was concerned.  One of the first things to pop in my mind was, "What about their education?" I worried for my daughters that they wouldn't finish schooling because they would go on missions, come home, get married and start having families.  I mean, that's the Lord's plan, right? 

Though this was a concern of mine, I also felt an immediate response to my own question, "This is the Lord's plan.  It will all work out." 

 My initial response doesn’t make much sense to me, because I have a long held belief that education is about more than the amount of time one spends in school or the earning of a degree.  I believe education is experience and experience is education. When these young women serve, that is an invaluable addition to their education.  

Maybe my first response was due to traditional teachings and old belief systems that no longer needed to exist. Maybe it was a residual reaction toward the woman who told me that girls who serve missions are better mothers — then while I’m sitting in her living room, surrounded by my own children and not having had served a mission. Maybe there is fear with the unknown, uncertainty with a change that challenges my own course in life already lived.  

I have since watched as brilliant and amazing young women have had the opportunity to serve missions, changing their lives.  I celebrate the young women who eagerly started working on their mission papers the moment the announcement was made.  I also see a generation of young women who strive to learn, to know, and to be the best they can be in all facets of their lives.  It has been inspiring to me.  These young women seek to be of influence and to do so they naturally seek more education — whether academic or experiential. 

Since that day in October 2012, I have had a front seat row to my daughters’ journey on this path. One daughter decided to leave high school early, matriculated into BYU-Idaho and graduated a month before getting sealed to her husband. In the middle of all that, she served a mission in California. She is now a mother and embracing this role whole-heartedly, continuing to learn and to grow. 

My other daughter surprised us by submitting her mission papers and serving in Australia. Both before and after her mission she “tried the college thing” and is now working to become a realtor while preparing for her upcoming wedding.  

Watching these two strong women forge their own paths I am reminded that there is not one way to an educated life and that we need educated women whatever their path may be! Honestly, the discernment these young women are using to determine their direction is awe-inspiring. I literally am in awe of the young women of today. They are strong, resilient, discerning and invaluable to the strength of our homes, our communities, and our nations. 

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“We need women who are devoted to shepherding God’s children along the covenant path toward exaltation; women who know how to receive personal revelation, who understand the power and peace of the temple endowment; women who know how o call upon the powers of heaven to protect and strengthen children and families; women who teach fearlessly.”  — President Russell M. Nelson