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Susan Giboney said she has practiced every piece of marital advice that she preaches.
Married for 36 years to her late husband, Terry, Giboney offers counseling based on her own personal experience to dozens of engaged and seriously dating couples who are considering marriage in the near future.
The counseling takes the form of weekly classes sponsored by the University Church of Christ at 9:45 every Sunday morning in CCB 140.
“This semester has been very interesting,” Giboney said. “We had a much larger number than normal, about 45 people, so many we had to change classrooms. We also have such a broad, interesting and mature spectrum of couples; from Seaver students, to graduate students, to even faculty members.”
Typically, about 12 couples attend the class each semester, while this semester there have been around 20.
Giboney attributes this to better publicity. Information about the class has been posted on the university calendar and in the announcements.
“The classes are very practical and very useful,” Giboney said. “The main purpose is to get couples to know each other better by raising the levels of quality, openness and honesty in the relationship.”
Giboney, an assistant professor of education at Seaver College for 15 years, began developing marital classes with her husband Terry almost 20 years ago. Together they put together a variety of discussions, tests and exercises to encourage communication between couples to better prepare them for marriage and ward off potentially destructive conflicts.
“Terry was a funny, faithful and wonderful man,” she said. “I miss him a lot. Together we were able to present both sides of marriage, from a husband’s and a wife’s point of view for other couples to learn from.”
Despite Terry’s death in 1996, Giboney continues to teach the classes using the same material they complied together during their marriage.
The classes are in the fourth week of discussion, and will continue until April 9.
Junior Chris Barlow and his fiancee, 2004 Pepperdine graduate Lydia Wollin, attend the classes together and said they plan to wed in July.
“Getting to see other couples who are engaged or seriously dating has been really cool,” Wollin said. “It can be encouraging to see same-age people walking along the same road as you. We are excited to have a whole new pool of potential couple friends.”
Giboney emphasized that her class is not just focusing on how to plan a wedding.
“A wedding is for one day, marriage is for a lifetime,” she said. Each week Giboney leads students in discussions of various topics ranging from roles, problem solving, money, sexual adjustment and coping with the in-laws.
Giboney said marital classes are a necessity the university must offer, and students should take.
“It is vital to a college like ours to help couples have a godly relationship, learning how to make healthy decisions which will lead to a happy marriage,” she said. “This class is an investment in your future, no matter what subject you are studying at Pepperdine.”
Giboney offers commitment as the biggest piece of advice she can give to engaged couples.
“Ultimately, it is commitment that creates a successful marriage,” she said. “Going into the marriage you have to say, ‘I’m committing to this eyes wide open for a lifetime.’ With a commitment to endure comes a commitment to love. That is when it will last.”
Most of all, Giboney wants to offer hope to a new generation of couples who are facing insurmountable odds of creating a successful marriage.
“Today culture is screaming at young people that it is not possible to have a good and lasting marriage,” she said. “I’m here to say, ‘Oh yes it is.’”
Students who would like more information regarding attending the marriage classes may contact Giboney, ext. 4959.
Submitted 02-02-2006
MALIBU, CA
