Life’s Aha Moments
BY: STEPHANIE GORDON
As a woman who works with students at the College, I overheard a conversation that struck me. A student said, “I thought about taking that path, but it’s not what I want for my future family.” I was immediately brought back to what I was planning for my life during my early college years. I was knee-deep working for what I wanted for my future. Looking back, I wish I had thought more like the student who was seemingly wise beyond her years.
When I was in college, I had dreams and aspirations to be a broadcast journalist. I pictured myself married, but I didn’t necessarily see myself as a mother. I wanted to dive deep with my dreams in a big city somewhere.
I did just that, and accepted a full-time production internship at NBC Nightly News in New York City during my senior year of college. I happily took the subway to work each morning, worked 12 hour days, and went out of my way to be seen among the big-time producers. It wasn’t until I caught a train home from work and saw something that was stamped on my heart forever. I saw a mother struggling to carry her two children, in a stroller, down the subway station’s steps. She was upset and looked stressed. I knew I didn’t want to struggle with my potential family in a city like New York. As much as I loved my job, I was excited to go home to Michigan.
After graduating from college, I took on a public relations job in Detroit, Michigan. During that time, I met my husband, Matt. Ironically, he happened to be from my hometown of Hillsdale, Michigan. Soon after we started dating, I knew he was “the one.”
I was shopping for Matt’s birthday gift when I received a call from an old producer I worked with at NBC. He asked if I wanted a producing job for a new show that was in the works. He told me that I’d have to find some roommates and live in Brooklyn, New York to start. He went on to say that I would probably have to shower at work and the pay wasn’t going to be great to start. After hearing those words, I knew my dreams had changed. At that moment, I knew I wanted to be married and raise a family with Matt in Michigan. We dated for seven months, got engaged, and were married two months later. We now have three children, Eloise, 7, Flora, 6, and Jack, 1.
I don’t regret turning down the job at NBC. Sure, I sometimes wonder what life could’ve been if I said yes to the job. I think that’s normal. But as a woman of faith, I believe that I am doing God’s work within the walls of our home. Matt and I have been married for almost 10 years. We have three beautiful children. We have a blessed life.
With all the blessings, though, the season of life we’re in with young children can be challenging to balance both family and career. We are lucky to love what we do, but making priorities and choosing what we want to pour ourselves into is how we function these days. We made the choice that I would stay home with the children. During these nearly eight years at home, I’ve been able to pick up contract work and still do things that I love.
My life is not what I had imagined when I was a college student – it’s better than I imagined. Whether you know what you want for your future family now, or you have no clue, know that you aren’t alone. Study your interests, make friends, and experience the beauty of college. God will be sure to put you on a path that is uniquely yours and one day, you will experience that aha moment knowing you’re exactly where you should be.
