Advice for a Sophomore

By Douglas Groothuis, PhD

I have taught philosophy full-time at the college and graduate level for thirty-two years. Thus, I am asked many questions. An earnest young man nearly fifty years my junior recently solicited my advice. He is a sophomore at Cornerstone University and had questions regarding the choice of his major and career goals. He also asked for counsel about how he should live his life as he anticipates either an academic or pastoral ministry. I was impressed at his humility and openness to learn. This is what I told him (with material added for this essay):

1.      Continue to seek God in prayer. Don’t trust in your own wisdom or strength. Depend on God moment-by-moment, as Francis Schaeffer advised in True Spirituality.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart

and lean not on your own understanding;

in all your ways submit to him,

and he will make your paths straight (Proverbs 3:5-6).

2.     Ask the Lord to direct you and keep your heart right before him. Consider Jesus’ words:

Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; the one who seeks finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.

Which of you, if your son asks for bread, will give him a stone? Or if he asks for a fish, will give him a snake? If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him! (Matthew 7:7-11).

3.     Study hard, and pursue the best grades you can. Don’t do anything on the cheap (Ecclesiastes 12:9-12). Don’t use AI to do work that you need to master yourself. Don’t skim any assigned reading. Never use AI summaries. Don’t waste time (Psalm 90:12; Ephesians 5:16). And keep a work-rest pattern of six days of work and one day of rest (Mark 2:27). Avoid both laziness and burn-out.

4.    Go beyond what is expected of you in your classes. Read more books on the topic than assigned. Ask your professors what additional reading and research would bolster the required reading. And do extra credit work when possible.

5.     Get counsel from older people who have expertise about the matters you are considering. Talk to professors and pastors.

6.    Find like-minded friends who are interested in serving Christ both cognitively and passionately—always holding firm the Word of truth while exercising grace toward others. The company we keep can influence our lives both directly and indirectly. As Paul wrote, “Do not be misled: ‘Bad company corrupts good character’” (1 Corinthians 15:33; see also Psalm 1).

7.     If you pursue a full-time position teaching the humanities at the college level, realize that the jobs are few and the competition fierce. The humanities have been losing students and professors and programs for years. You will put in a tremendous amount of work up to and through your doctorate with no guarantee of long-term and gainful employment. So, as Jesus said, “I am sending you out like sheep among wolves. Therefore, be as shrewd as snakes and as innocent as doves” (Matthew 11:16). Be clear-eyed about this.

Even with these challenges, the call of God on your life can override the negative factors. Remember, “with God all things are possible” (Matthew 19:26). If you can line up (1) doing what you love, (2) doing it well, (3) doing what needs to be done for the glory of God and the good of the world, and (4) earning a full-time living from it, you are truly blessed. You will never want to retire. I don’t.

Perhaps some of this advice from an old Christian philosopher will be of help to you or your friends. For further insight, I highly recommend The Call by Os Guinness. It is the best Christian book on calling in general. I highly recommend it. Selah.