Don't walk this path alone.

What are some of the things you should know before you arrive on campus?

In this blog, I am going to try to give you some perspective and maybe some confidence as you begin your college experience.  

The best advice that I can give you comes from God Himself.  Our Father made us and He knows us better than we know ourselves.  To top that off, He had a plan for YOUR LIFE and He knows the best way for you to go, so it would be hugely important that you start (and continue) your journey with Him.

In Genesis  God had this advice for Adam - who was just beginning his education in life.  He said:  "The Lord God said, “It is not good for the man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him (Genesis 2:18)".  We are not made to walk through life alone - especially through the hard things.  College will be overwhelming - count on it.  If you share your walk with "suitable helpers", you will manage and very likely thrive in the academic environment.  But if you try to walk alone, you could be crushed by the many demands that will fall on you every day.  

So, who are these "suitable helpers" that you should surround yourself with?

1.  Your parents.
You may be away from home, but you are not away from their thoughts.  They are not only praying for you and worrying about you - they are rooting for you.  They want you to succeed and they want you to have all the tools you need to make this happen.  Don't neglect this relationship -- CALL YOUR MOM!

2. Student resources.
Believe it or not - even thought the university demands a lot from you, they want you to succeed.  They have high expectations for you and believe you can handle the challenges - that is why they set the standard high.  The college leaders also know that this can be overwhelming, so they provide helps.  Check the campus website and find out what student services, clubs, and resources are available to you (such as tutoring and counseling programs) - then use them (they are there for you - and you pay for them through your tuition so you might as well get your money's worth).  

3. Professors
The same as with the college administration, your professors do not want to see you fail - it reflects badly on their teaching.  Remember that they got into teaching to help people succeed.  Get to know them and ask them their advice on how to succeed - especially in their classes.

4. Social resources
Get to know the people in your classes - they may be your coworkers and peers in the careers you go into.  These relationships may pay off big time in your future.  They also can help you walk when you feel like crawling.  They are good for helping you through classes and for venting your frustrations.  They are walking the same path, so they will understand your fears and will celebrate your victories.  You may want to join some clubs and intramural sports teams to extend your peer group.  The more people you are connected to, the stronger your walk will be.

5.  Church
Many students away from home neglect this important connection.  It is sometimes scary going into a new church and you will rarely find a church just like the one you knew at home, but don't let that stop you.  You may want to check out a few churches, but as soon as you can, pick one.  By being connected to this resource, your world will open up.  Not only will it help you keep yourself grounded in your faith, but it will bring people into your life that have experiences and resources that you may have trouble finding.  For example, if your car breaks down you could call the church for help.  They would have a number of people that could give you rides and maybe even connections with a mechanic or a car dealer that could help you get a good deal.  

Ecclesiastes teaches us that their is strength in numbers.  The author (possibly Solomon) said:  Two are better than one because they have a good return for their labor.  For if either of them falls, the one will lift up his companion. But woe to the one who falls when there is not another to lift him up.  Furthermore, if two lie down together they keep warm, but how can one be warm alone?  And if one can overpower him who is alone, two can resist him. A cord of three strands is not quickly torn apart.  (Ecclesiastes 4:9-12)

Don't try to walk alone.
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