The Time Will Pass Anyway

When my husband, Joe, and I were in our early twenties, we were both undergraduates at the same university. We had gotten married young, a month after I graduated from high school, and we struggled to stay financially afloat. I was majoring in elementary education and growing increasingly frustrated with how long it was taking to finish my degree. After a particularly rough day of classes, I came home and announced I was ready to quit.

Being a devoted dog lover, I had a plan. I would drop out of college and become a dog groomer. The training only took a few months, far less time than the years it would take to become a teacher. And we desperately needed the income. Dog grooming felt like a step to move us forward.

Joe listened quietly. Then after a long pause, he asked, “What do you see yourself doing at 50? Grooming dogs or teaching?”

I tried to picture both. At the time, my concept of what a 50-year-old looked like was very different from the reality of today. However, I still couldn’t see myself giving canine haircuts or clipping nails. I could, however, see myself in a classroom. I had carried that vision since second grade, when Mrs. Thomas (now Mrs. Bliss) inspired me to become a teacher.

He followed with the kind of wise advice I would come to expect over 32 years of marriage, “Don’t quit going to school because it’s going to take too long. The time will pass anyway.”

What I didn’t know then (and I’m not sure if Joe did either) was that his words echoed a quote by Earl Nightingale: “Never give up on a dream just because of the time it will take to accomplish it. The time will pass anyway.” Nightingale, a radio host and motivational speaker, captured in his words the mantra that I have come to live by and share. Long before I knew the quote’s origin, I found myself repeating Joe’s words to family, friends, colleagues, and students.

I see it every day in my professional career, from the 22-year-old struggling to reach graduation to the 65-year-old deciding whether it is worth it to finish their master’s degree. The time will pass. What will you do with it?

The question does not just apply to personal dreams. It’s also relevant for advocacy, especially in education.

Change in education policy can be slow. It is important that we look at the journey, not just the destination. If you want to be an effective advocate, you have to be in it for the long haul. And while the process is slow and often feels tedious, it matters.

Each year, I take groups of education majors to the state Capitol. We wait for legislators to become available, have a quick conversation, and rush off to the next meeting. Oftentimes, we rush to get to their offices for our scheduled appointment, only to find they are in committee or are running behind. It is a relentless cycle of “hurry up and wait”. And while it can be tiring and even frustrating, it is part of the process.

Patience, then, becomes an essential skill in advocacy. And so does perseverance. In education policy, the wins are rare. When we do get them, we have to celebrate. And when we don’t, we have to keep going.

Years ago, Joe asked me what I saw myself doing at 50. Today, I ask you this: When you look back years from now, will you be proud of how you used your time? Will you have stood for something that mattered? Something that made a difference?

So, start now. Speak up. Stay committed. The time will pass, but what you do with it is up to you.

(Image Credit: Canva AI Generator)