The church has students in their congregations until they graduate high school. Then what?
A high school youth ministry will hopefully discuss their students transition to college. There are a variety of joys and challenges for young people as they enter college. They get to pursue an interest of their choosing, meet new people, ‘start over’ with a new identity from high school, and become their own person. The challenges are significant as well with new ideas comes new temptations, peer pressure, navigating relationships, academics, plus balancing work, extra clubs, and activities.
The first month of a student’s freshman year is one of the most critical times in their life.
The habits they set in that first month can carry them through college. Supportive adults and parents can ask before they even transition how they might answer questions like…
- Will they prioritize making it to class or completing assignments?
- What will they study?
- What kind of priorities will they set with their free time? Will they value drinking and the college lifestyle or reaching out and getting connected with a campus ministry?
- How will they spend their money?
- How will they stay connected to friends, family, and church back home?
- What does it look like to use technology in a healthy, God-pleasing way?
- What characteristics do they want others to know them for?
Starting college with strong habits is critical for the role of any youth ministry. Leaders in churches should value and make space for having conversations with high school seniors about college. Topics could include navigating: dating, relationships, social college scene, finances, academics, technology, home life, and how to live out your faith on campus.
One critical conversation is about relationships, both friendship and romance. Students are now responsible for their own actions and are making choices about who they want to befriend and associate with. Those relationships will likely dictate much about their college years. We know how you spend time deeply influences you. Will you casually date around or seek a dating relationship with purpose and meaning? Your future spouse is the most critical decision that you will make in your life. What are we teaching our young people to value in future dating relationships?
The social scene is deeply tempting for every new college student. Everyone wants to feel like they belong and have community. For right or wrong, the party scene can provide that for many people in college. Young people are constantly seeking after their people and where they belong. They want a community that cares for them. It’s important for students to identify places where they find belonging that encourages their connection to the church and faith. This can mean identifying early Christian friends, as well as local LCMS congregations and campus ministries.
Time management is a second foundational topic for college preparation. You can start by talking about how high school students set their priorities. There are limitless options in college from academics, faith, friends, sports, work, clubs, and extracurricular activities. If high school was busy, college could be even more demanding. Talking through top priorities helps to balance calendars and gives a plan for where to say yes and no when given many choices.
Being disciplined academically will be the first challenge. The class schedule will be much different and finding time for homework sporadically throughout the week. Making a schedule and sticking to it will be critical. Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 speaks to time management in that there is a time for everything and a season. In college there will be time for study and relaxing. A time for fun and a time for work. College is an adjustment period. Things are changing at a fast pace, but God is with us through it all.
Hebrews 13:8 is one of my favorite passages, “Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and forever.” While we experience all these changes as we enter college, we have this hope that Jesus Christ never changes. He is a constant in our lives. When we come to Him we experience peace knowing that our future is secure in Him.
Those formative decisions will be made way before entering college.
The church and parents can help young people to have these conversations early and often. As they do, they can help young people find Christian community in college. Students will benefit when the church values making time to help our students transition to college and see faith as a priority. We can always work to hand our students off to another college church or campus ministry.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not fear or be in dread of them, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you.” Deuteronomy 31:6
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