05.28.06 Bulletin Article -- More Graduation Advice

Last week, I began to dispense what I thought were helpful hints to this year’s High School graduates. As a reminder, I want to emphasize that most of my “advice” is probably not worth the paper this is printed on, but I hope it will cause some good thinking about life’s issues, and more importantly a search of the scriptures regarding these varied topics. The most important of advice is the “keep the faith.” Through Bible study, prayer, active church participation, evangelism, and the like, we can ensure our faithfulness before God. In the grand scheme of things, that is most important. May we always take the steps to grow in the faith.

Now more other “advice:”
The financial decisions you make now are important. How you choose to spend your graduation gift money, how you choose to spend your regular paycheck, how you view money will all factor into your financial stability/instability in the future. The biggest factor in how much money you have in the future (that is what you’re thinking about, right?) is how you handle money. If you’ve always spent more than you’ve had, whether it’s $1, $10, or $100, you’ll probably always spend all you have and more even if you’re making $50,000 a year. However, if you’re thrifty with your income, you will probably have a surplus even if you make $10,000 a year. The point is: be responsible now. Only spend what you have now. Your habits and perspectives will carry over into your adult lives.

Learn how to learn. No matter your grades in High School, you likely did very little studying. No matter you’re brilliance, you’ll have to study and have to prove you’re knowledge in college. The key to doing well in college is not memorizing answers to tests, but to learn. Always be willing to learn; even outside the classroom. Chances are, it will pay off inside the classroom. If you learn the material in your classes, you will do fine on the tests. If you merely study for the tests, you may not do fine in the class. Teachers are much more lenient with you if they know you know your stuff and know you’ve put effort into learning. Never be above learning; there’s always something else to discover.

Make your own decisions. Discovering who you are and what is important to you is a very crucial process that you will undergo during the next several years. In doing this, you need to be true to yourself. The Word of God should influence and guide your decisions, of course, but you need to be the wonderful individual God created you to be. If you can serve God and others best as a teacher, even though doctors make more money, be a teacher! If it’s best for you to move away to college to open more doors and deepen your faith, then move away to college (Lord willing a Christian University)! Be sure you make the right decision...be sure it’s yours.

Listen to those who love you. “But I thought you said to make my own decisions?” Yes, but we need to remember that who we are is a combination of our various influences and experiences. Even if you don’t always agree with your parents, grandparents, friends, or (gasp!) Youth Minister, remember that we all love you and want the best for you in your service to God. The words and thoughts offered by all of these are given to help you make the most of your life. Make your own decisions; but don’t completely forsake those who love you.

I suppose this concludes my “advice” for the time being. Keep your faith in God, and keep it strong. Best of luck in all you do.