Dear College Grad,
Congrats! You've worked so hard, and now commencement is over. I was cheering big as you walked across the stage, and I'm praying for you as you make this transition out of college. I remember well the conflicting emotions: mourning all the goodbyes, anticipating all the adventures just ahead.
Speaking of adventures just ahead . . . let's talk about that, because if your experience is anything like mine, reality won't quite meet your expectations.
Let's Talk About . . . Your Friends
Your circle of peers is likely going to decrease. Significantly. You'll no longer have a built-in community to play intramural basketball or to go out with for ice cream.
You'll need to work to find new friends. You might look right past them at first, because some will be older than you, others younger, and most not much like you at all. And while that might not feel okay, it really is. They have a lot to offer you, and you have a lot to offer them. Befriend newly-married couples. Befriend preteens. Befriend families with kids. Befriend senior citizens.
Let's Talk About . . . Your Local Church
Where can you find all these new friends? The best place to look is at a local, Christ-centered, Bible-teaching church. Of course, that's not the only reason you're attending, but as you spend time with these brothers and sisters in Christ week after week—hopefully in smaller settings throughout the week as well as in corporate worship on Sundays—you will begin to feel and receive true affection for and from them.
Let's Talk About . . . Your Relationship with God
It’s not enough to just hear about God. You need to hear from God through His Word.
Attending a local church is important, but it's not your only connection to God. And while the Christian life is not meant to be an individual affair, it is deeply personal. It's not enough to just hear about God. You need to hear from God through His Word, as that's the way He's chosen to reveal more about His character.
- Are you aware of and in tune with His presence as you go about your day?
- Are you regularly spending time studying His Word?
- Are you talking to Him about everything, as He is your Father, your Counselor, your Lord, and your Shepherd?
- Are you praising Him with songs—even if you have a terrible voice or you're feeling depressed? (That's the best time to sing, actually!)
Let's Talk About . . . Your Career
It's rare that you'll get your dream job right out of college. Don't be discouraged if your first job seems . . . beneath you. Mine sure felt like that. But I had a ton to learn about blessing my employer rather than making a name for myself.
Learn, learn, learn. Grow, grow, grow. Give more than you take.
So be patient. It's not likely that your first job will end up being your lifelong career. Learn, learn, learn. Grow, grow, grow. Give more than you take.
Trust God and know that a) He doesn't waste anything, b) He is still writing your story, and c) He is where satisfaction is found. True contentment is found in Him, not in a dream job.
Let's Talk About . . . Your Ultimate Purpose
True happiness and peace come from knowing, enjoying, and seeking to make much of Him, not much of ourselves.
Life is not about us; it's all about God. They won't tell you this in your business classes, but that doesn't make it any less true. We were created by God and for Him. True happiness and peace come from knowing, enjoying, and seeking to make much of Him, not much of ourselves.
Rooting for you,
Paula