Lessons learned as a college student in my 40s!

My loved ones and acquaintances are aware that I have recently completed my Bachelor of Science degree in Ministerial Leadership with a focus on pastoral counseling from Southeastern University. Despite having worked in vocational ministry for more than 20 years, God directed me to return to the academic environment. I want to impart some of the knowledge I have gained during my studies.

1. Learning from our mistakes helps us avoid regrets.

I am having a laid-back summer without any significant commitments at church, no summer classes to attend, and no volunteering at camps. Despite this, I am still learning and growing in my faith. Perhaps it’s because I am turning 45 soon or because I am used to being busy all the time, but I have been doing some weighty introspection lately. During a recent conversation with my husband, I shared some of my mistakes during my ministry journey (I’ll save the full list for a future blog post). However, one of them is that I didn’t return to school to finish my education sooner. Rather than dwelling on the could-have-been, I choose to view my missteps as lessons that have shaped me into a better servant of God and others. I also realized God’s grace has been with me through every misstep and oversight. Instead of dwelling on my mistakes as regrets, I have chosen to view them as valuable lessons. These lessons have helped me grow and become a better servant of God and people.

2. The Value of the younger generations’ perspective.

As a college student in my 40s, I’ve gained a new appreciation for education thanks to my life experience and maturity. But what surprised me the most was how much I learned from my younger colleagues in Gen Z. Their fresh perspective and resilience are precisely what the Church needs. Not only did their passion reignite my hope for the Church’s future, but it was also contagious. I promised the Lord when I was young that I would never lose my passion for Him. To keep that fire burning, we must always be open to learning and growing, even from those younger than us. Being an older student in a classroom of younger peers allowed me to develop empathy and understanding, bridging the generational gap and fostering mutual respect. I learned to embrace the opportunity to learn from and connect with individuals from different backgrounds and perspectives, which increased my own personal perception. It’s essential to glean from the younger generation, as refusing to do so may lead us down the same path as King Saul, who lost his way by clinging to his power and position.

3. Finding balance requires prioritizing and delegating tasks effectively. 

As a nontraditional college student, my life is full of many responsibilities. Balancing family and church life was challenging enough, but adding college made it even more difficult. I had to accept that it was okay if certain household chores weren’t completed perfectly. My friend Becca always says that two things never end: God’s love and laundry. Therefore, if I wanted to graduate and not drive myself and my family crazy, I had to learn to delegate some responsibilities to others at church and in my family. Thankfully, I was blessed with amazing people who stepped up to help. Our intern and another younger adult took the youth to camp without me, other leaders chaired committees that I used to lead, and my youngest son became the new Hester household chef. Honestly, these individuals did a better job than I ever could have. After tasting my sons’ recipe for fried chicken, I’ve concluded that it surpasses my own by a lot!  I learned to prioritize what was most important during this new season of my life and delegate other tasks. This lesson has helped me grow and become more efficient, as well as make room for others to shine!

4. Personal growth is always possible, no matter your age.

People say it’s never too late to reinvent oneself, but my identity in Christ remains the same. However, I have realized that it’s easy to become complacent. After preaching and pastoring in my hometown for decades, I coasted. But personal development and growth require getting out of your comfort zone. Returning to school in my 40s taught me the importance of learning new techniques, technologies, vocabulary, and methods. Stepping out of my comfort zone and embracing new knowledge ignited my hunger for continued development. Friends, there is always time to learn something new!

5. It is not about degrees but about obedience and purpose.

I believe that following God requires taking a leap of faith and sometimes even taking a risk. That’s why I’ve decided to return to school to bridge the gap between biblical and clinical counseling. As a minister, I’ve seen firsthand the mental health crisis many face. Unfortunately, the Church hasn’t always been a safe place for people to receive healing in this area. I want to help change that. Additionally, I’ve noticed that many pastors struggle with secret sins, burnout, secondary trauma, family crisis, and even undiagnosed PTSD.  Unfortunately, there is a lack of counselors who are well-versed in the Word of God and have clinical training to help these servants of God. The need for such professionals is immense, and I aim to be part of the solution. My passion and reason for returning to school are not to earn degrees but to fulfill my purpose and expand and serve the kingdom of God.  

My journey of returning to school in my 40s has been filled with valuable life lessons. I’ve learned to embrace mistakes as growth opportunities, appreciate the wisdom of the younger generation, find balance through effective delegation, nurture personal growth, and prioritize obedience and purpose over degrees. As I embark on my next chapter in grad school, I do so with a renewed passion to expand the kingdom of God and be a catalyst for healing and support in the lives of others. In conclusion, I hope my educational journey encourages you to go after your dreams and do what it takes to fulfill the call of God on your life too!