“Ring by spring” is a phrase commonly heard around Union’s campus. However, this phrase is associated with Christian college students in general.
Even the Urban Dictionary mentions phrase is associated with “Christian college kids in their senior year feel a need to get engaged before the final semester, thus ‘ring by spring.’”
Below this definition is a sentence and word tags that exemplify the use of the phrase — but clearly mockingly.
What creates this different mentality among Christian students, and is the mentality something on which universities have a say?
In reading about marriage rates among undergraduate students, I began to realize how counter-cultural this mentality is.
Partying and late nights with friends often are associated with a typical college student.
It is common to view these students as less mature and unable to make wise decisions, excusing unethical, immoral behavior as growing pains.
Looking at a Christian university, Union in particular, people see very different opinions.
Partying, in the normal college sense, is frowned upon. Immoral or unethical behavior is corrected, often through counseling.
Rather than allowing students to make unwise decisions, faculty and staff dedicate their time to helping the students make decisions. This mentoring enables students to grow and learn how to make wise decisions.
These examples may seem disconnected to the marriage mentality, but I would disagree.
By expecting better behavior from its students, Union helps them to grow into adulthood rather than partying it up for the next four years until “real life” begins.
Union students are learning ways to make life after college worth living.
Encouraging Bible studies and friendships that extend beyond the college years are some of the ways in which this is seen.
The community of campus life can be seen as a practice of the community among believers after college.
By helping students to make wiser decisions in college, faculty and staff enable students to learn how to make wise decisions.
When students are left to make their own unguided decisions for the first time, many will make poor choices.
It should not be surprising that, when a school does not discourage sex before marriage, college students, who are known for seeking fun and entertainment, choose to fulfill their short-term desires with the easy, less-committed route.
And if fun or entertainment is all that sex is, then there is little thought given to marriage during college and little thought given to spending a lifetime with one person.
Additionally, Union’s faculty and staff are often not the only people offering guidance on life decisions to its students.
If the student attends a local church there may be sermons or Sunday school lessons taught on making important decisions.
Students may mentor with a member a local church who can also provide them with wise counseling.
The church teaches marriage for a lifetime, which is counter-cultural enough.
When students are receiving this teaching, it should be less surprising that they are seeking a lifelong commitment rather than a hookup or short-term relationship.
It is important to note that, to my knowledge, Union’s faculty and staff do not actually encourage this mentality.
Rather, they provide guidance to making dating and marriage decisions both through chapel messages and mentoring.
The “ring by spring” mentality has the potential to lead to its own hasty or unwise decisions.
If you are suffering from “ring by spring” fever, it may be good to talk with someone who can speak with authority on the subject, whether that is a faculty or staff or local church member.
Finally, the rules and counseling provided by Union are meant to help students succeed in marriage as well as other areas of life.
The teachings provided through chapel messages and local church sermons are intended to teach students how to live a Christ-honoring life.
And part of that life is building relationships.
Anna is a senior advertising major.
