I wanted to write this blog entry to encourage y'all, give some advice, and let y'all know I am here for you if you need anything from an experienced college-goer. So here it is...
- I'm sure you've heard some people say that college is "the best four years of your life." Well it is for some people and it isn't for others. You've been preparing for this for 18 years and have a lot of expectations, a lot of worries, and a lot of pre-made plans. Forget all those...forget what other people told you college was like for them (advice is good but do your own thing with it), forget the expectations you have, forget the worries, and prepare to start a new plan. Go in with the mindset that anything can happen. If you don't like your major, change it. If you don't like the new one, change it again. The average college life span is four years, but what's wrong with five or six? Don't stick to the "plan"; take it one step at a time. God will throw you some great surprises, but if you are too focused on "sticking to the plan," it may take longer for you to see what God really has planned for you.
- Keep an open mind at all times. You will learn so much in the next four years....don't miss any of it because you didn't open your mind to new things, new answers, or new ideas.
- You are about to enter the most worldly place you probably have ever been. There will be temptations galore. STAY ROOTED IN YOUR FAITH. I cannot stress this enough. Don't go into this sin-infested place without your belt of truth, shield of faith, sword of the Spirit, etc... (ephesians 6). ["For our struggle is not against flesh and blood,but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms." ~vs. 12]. Spend time in the Word, listen to sermons, read commentaries, pray, pray, pray, pour truth into your minds as much as you can because there are so many lies out there. People will lie to you, satan will lie to you, and you will lie to yourself....feed truths into your mind so you will not give in to these lies.
- Put yourself out there...be bold! Everyone else is feeling just as scared as you are so be the person that steps up and puts you all at ease! Invite new friends to coffee, get to know the people on your hall, and don't let yourself hide in your room too much! (this is mostly for us introversts!!)
- Find good friends right away...once you get into the wrong group, its difficult to get out. Intentionally search for friends who will help you walk down the right path. A good, Christian community is vital. Find a good church if there is one around. Even if you are involved in a campus ministry, churches have so much more to offer...they have people older than you to give you wisdom (i know...right now everyone is older than you, but you won't be the youngest forever!), they have younger people for you to pour into (serving people that are younger than you provides lots of clarity about life sometimes plus they really look up to you), and sometimes it's just nice to have somewhere to escape to when you want to get away from anything campus related. Church gives you people that are in a different stage of life...if you stay on campus all the time, everyone around you is pretty much in the same stage of life. So find all kinds of people you can learn from...this is a beautiful time of growth in your life!
- Cherish every moment and use each minute. Time will FLY like you wouldn't believe! When I think about the fact that I'm already halfway through college (if i finish in four years), I feel like I've wasted so much time. Be constantly on the lookout for ways to learn and grow and serve others.
- Learn early how to manage your time so you have just the right balance between your classes and your friends.. If you are too focused on getting straight A's, classes tend to suck the life out of you. Yes, please focus on your grades because that is why you are there in the first place, but don't forget to cherish the sweet friendships you make. Accept the fact that you will not make A's in all your classes...you will have some subjects you just don't understand as well as others. Just do your best, work as hard as you can while keeping your sanity, and feel accomplished!
- I'm gonna tell you something, but don't let it freak you out... you WILL fail at least one test (probably more). When someone told me this, I didn't believe it until it happened...and again... and again. I was too prideful and didn't like asking for help so failing tests became a pattern for me in some classes. ASK FOR HELP! Seek help after you make the first bad grade or even before then when you see that you don't understand the material...don't wait until finals week! Go see each of your professors at least 2 times during the semester. This will show them you want to learn and they will remember that. Some of my professors actually scolded our class for NOT going in to see them. They have office hours for a reason...use them! Also, if professors see you trying, they will be more lenient while grading your papers! This may be different if you have large lecture classes... The biggest class I've ever had was about 60 people.
- Please actually go to class! Now don't get me wrong...I do encourage occasionally skipping class just for the sake of sanity. If you are completely overwhelmed, it's okay to skip a class if there is nothing going on that day (this will refresh you so you can work hard later)....occasionally.
- If you don't own a pair of rainboots, invest in some :)
- Take lots of pictures, make scrapbooks, photo albums, etc.
- Explore your campus...find the little special spots that noboby knows about!
- Never do homework in your room...people know where to find you and distract you. Also, the bed will stare you down, call your name, and taunt you until you agree to go lay in it...I gave in to it 90% of the time!
- Even if everyone else goes home every weekend, stay on campus. Use the weekend to relax, do fun stuff, de-stress from the week! Plan activities ahead of time so you know at least someone will be there with you and get to know that person better. But do talk with your parents about when you will visit them...they will always be your #1 supporters...don't forget that!
- Lastly and most importantly: You're going to meet a lot of people with different backgrounds and different stories than yours....always remember that God gave you your story for a reason. and the best news is that He isn't done writing. The Maker of the universe is writing your personal story. It's individualized and beautiful because He is the One writing it. Never doubt what He can do. Look for Him all the time; He is everywhere. Watch Him orchestrate the tiniest moments as well as the mile-markers. You are His beloved, His friend, His child. You are His. You will, without a doubt, change in this new season of life, but NEVER forget your identity.
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