Josh Cortez

     I had finally made it! I graduated from college, started grad school, got married, and even fit in a church internship before my life officially “began” as a youth pastor. Interviews were a breeze. And as I saw it, I had checked every box needed to enter ministry: School—check. Wife—check. Experience—well, kind of—check. I had even gone above and beyond by starting a family. I was finally living out what I had spent so many years preparing for in school. At least, that’s what I thought. Because not long after I started, I realized there were many things college didn’t teach me about being a youth pastor.      In many ways, college is designed to expedite learning. It condenses a field of study—one that can take years to master—into a 4-5 year plan. But I know it’s more than just that. You learn how to study, research, and think critically. However, for the most part, you spend hours upon hours reading about what others have experienced, rather than ga...