The Growing Pressure About What Comes Next

We have 123 days (exactly 4 months) left, until we find ourselves in the United States again. I feel a pressure about “what on earth am I going to do when I get back”. I want to use my newly learned Spanish skills to help people with communication. I want to get involved in social justice to try and change conditions in The United States for the better. I want to continue learning about theology. I want to continue building relationships using the accompaniment model. I want to tell stories about my experiences in Mexico and to hear other people’s stories. I wish to find an environment that could fulfill all of these wants.

As I talk to other YAGM’s, they are all worried about what the future holds for them as well. I have met with some who already have plans for the future. As I talk to them, they feel relieved from the stress about the looming “time after YAGM”. I want to feel this relief to, but for now, I am overwhelmed with the questions about “what will I do”.

My plan is to go to seminary after this year. The choices have been narrowed down to The Lutheran Theological Seminary at Philadelphia or Luther Seminary in St. Paul Minnesota. I feel conflicted about this decision. I have been analyzing details like weather, crime rates, cost of living, scholarships, class structure, location and age demographics to help me make my decision. (If anyone has any recommendations, I would be glad to hear them.) I feel like in the end, it will come down to essentially a gut-decision about where I feel that I want to go. I have been given a deadline of March 31st to have my decision made. This should be enough time to decide. At this point, I have all of my facts and I only need to make a decision.