Calling All College Freshman

You can stop pinching yourself because this moment is real. Its time to move into college.

If you are anything like me, your stomach might twist and turn at the thought of jumping out of your comfort zone into a huge pile of awkward confusion.

But I have good news. You can avoid that!

College is like one huge refinery, and you are about to be the material.

The reason I say that is because there are going to be so many things tugging for your attention (good and bad). You will have classes to take care of, professors to talk to, friends to find, and whatever else you decide to give your attention to.

I advise that you choose wisely..

I must say for me, the greatest thing I have found thus far is genuine friendship. The thing about it is that you must seek out people who will encourage you to do things that are in your best interest. That is genuine. If that friend is willing to pressure you, give you ultimatums, or leave you hanging out to dry, then you probably need to start rethinking some things.

So, choose friends that will uplift and encourage you. And try to return the favor.

Next, avoid Netflix like the plague.
I'm telling you right now, I love me some Friday Night Lights, but a career as a professional Netflix viewer will get you nowhere. Time management is essential. Save that for Christmas Break.

STUDY. 
For those of you who think you know what this means, stop lying to yourself. You don't until you fail that first test. Its okay, it happens to the best of us.

The beautiful thing about studying is that it works when you do it the right way. But there is a formula to this.

Go to class + take notes + review the material + find ways to apply that material to real life + ask questions + create a study group = How to study.

I'm sure there are more things you can add to that equation but that will work for now.

I might mention that going to class is pretty important. Professors are smarter than you simply because most of them were you at one point and after they get their degree, they are basically the smarter version of you. SO don't try to cheat the system. Simply go to class.

Make time for spiritual growth. 

This could be the most important thing I could ever write. There will come a time in your life and mine that you will no longer be able to use your career. The meaning of success will become blurred because like anything else in life, things pass.

Isaiah 40:8 says, "the grass withers and the flowers fade, but the word of God shall stand forever".

Yeah all that metaphorical grass you grew when you were trying to fulfill your career goals will fade. That is a promise.

The good news about that is that your relationship with Jesus Christ will NEVER fade. If my major could be "disciple of Christ" you better believe I would jump on that opportunity. That degree would never go to waste.

The beauty of college is that if you do it right, you will be made into a beautiful person, and the even better part is that you will probably help other people be made into something beautiful as well.

Always remember that your grades do not define you, you do not need a GPA to get into Heaven, and your past is as good as gone. Be victorious.