A Life in the Classroom

Cathi Kennedy looks back on her experiences in higher education, noting the importance of learning throughout our lifetimes.

My Facebook memories reminded me that sixteen years ago, I graduated from Bethel University with my bachelor’s degree. I was 40 years old.   

The path to my degree was winding, to say the least. I had done one semester at the University of Texas El Paso (go Miners!), transferred to a satellite of Indiana University, and then quit altogether, discouraged and out of money.   

A Dream ... and Disillusionment

Throughout high school and into those early college years, I had the surety that I would be a teacher. I loved elementary school and was a good student; it was an easy choice for a career path.   

And then, I was quickly disillusioned by the education track at the university I had chosen and, more importantly, at the revelation of my tendency to do the thing for you rather than teach you how. It is not a great teacher trait.  

I was rudderless at that point, so I stopped going to school. 

The Path to Lifelong Learning 

Years later, I returned to a local college and received an associate’s degree in accounting. It was not the career path I’d choose, but it was an impetus for future learning.  

When I started the next chapter at Bethel University (then Bethel College), I was married with two boys and working full-time. My husband and kids ate a lot of frozen pizzas. Without my family’s support, I’m unsure how I would have gotten through it.  

Walking across that stage was a huge accomplishment. My mom proudly sat in the stands. It was a good day.  

I started a master’s degree seven years later when our lives were undergoing more transition. The program gave me structure when I felt my purpose shifting into the unknown. School meant a lot of frozen meals for my husband once again, and the courses were much more difficult on the graduate level, but I did it. Another milestone. And I was sure that it was the last time I’d be in a classroom.  

Fast forward another nine years, and I’m preparing to hit the books again. I’m starting a graduate theology course in a few short weeks. I’m unsure whether this will lead to a full-on master’s degree. At this point, it’s about education, learning more about my faith, and pulling me closer to God.  

An Indirect Path 

My path was indirect, but each chapter gave me more confidence, career opportunities, and an appreciation for all things learning.  

A career in academia was in my future, though not as a teacher. I’ve been in higher education for thirteen years, and it’s been a fulfilling experience for me, watching the students I’ve recruited and advised walk their own journeys.  

Don’t stop learning. Be curious. Take a course that interests you, and take the leap — you don’t know where it may lead. 

Thank you, God, for my indirect path. 

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Copyright 2025 Cathi Kennedy
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