A MYRIAD OF OPPORTUNITIES
There are many things I look back on fondly in my University days. There were so many opportunities to pursue different interesting things, and I did get to achieve some of them. As travel appealed to me, I got to go on an overseas volunteering programme, a homestay in Japan and an exchange programme as well. For others, University was a time to hustle and build up their resumes – and that’s what they did, being active in committees, finding internships and so on. Others pursued various sports or clubs they wouldn’t have found back in Junior College or Polytechnic. Others were intent on meeting more people and expanding their social network. If all you wanted to do was to study and get your grades, you could do that as well.
Depending on your aims for University, you may face a lot of stress from the environment. University is quite competitive after all, and you may find yourself sucked into the arms race for more internships, better grades and other things. You might be afraid that a lack of something will affect your future employment prospects.
NOT FORGETTING THAT YOU’RE STILL CHRISTIAN
With all these things around, I think there’s always a chance that being active as a member of church will take a backseat. The new friends and new activities might probably be more exciting than the good old church things. Still, I think it will probably be nice to keep connected to church even on the weekdays – such as through the campus fellowship.
If anything, these moments were useful in keeping me grounded, even if I wanted to experience all the other things out there in Uni. In fact, some others might have found that University was when they began to find more meaning and purpose in church and became more active as a result.
CONTROVERSIAL TOPICS
Also, especially if you are an arts student, you may also encounter quite a bit of curriculum that will run counter to the Word of God. Some people in class will subscribe to certain ideologies regarding gender, sex or religion, with an almost religious zeal. You don’t have to explicitly defend the truth against them, but you also don’t have to be intimidated into following the tides. There will be others in class who will probably not agree with what is being taught as well - especially if you have classmates that are Christians too. Regardless, remembering the principles laid out by the word of God, will serve you well to prevent being overly influenced by these modern thoughts.
LAST BUT NOT LEAST
Remember to enjoy your time in University. It’s the time of your youth, and it would be quite sad to look back at this time of your life as just an endless slog. Don’t be afraid to have fun and to make new friends in school and in church. Find time to enjoy your activities in University (whatever they may be) but use this time as an opportunity to learn how to balance all the various things in life - studies, internships, family, church and of course your own relationship with God.
In all things, remember God, and to use His principles to guide your decisions. It will surprise you what the Lord can do for you!
FOR US TO PONDER:
How should I stay guarded against worldly thoughts and activities that are not edifying for our lives as Christians?
What would it look like for me to redefine success in a world where "having it all" is often portrayed as the goal?
