Three Crucial Conversations:
Lastly, these three conversations with your child will help them be even more prepared spiritually to step into the freedoms and unknowns of college life.
- Developing a Personal Mission Statement – Let them know that a personal mission statement is a statement of values, priorities, and mission. Having this created and kept in a journal, on their mirror, or in their phone will help them as they face new decisions, relationships, and situations at school.
- Creating A Connection Plan – Connecting with a Christian community is crucial in the first few days/weeks of college. This usually does not happen automatically. Your child needs a plan, and you can help him by talking through qualities to look for and researching the Christian organizations and ministries located on campus.
- Identifying The Type of Church They Would Best Fit Into – Most high school students have never had to look for a church by themselves, and instead they just go to where either their parents or friends attend. However, if a student is going to replace that influence in college, he will need to understand the qualities to look for in a new church and have the confidence to jump into a new setting. The first step is to do your research – look online for churches near campus, especially ones that may have transportation available, as well as ask friends or alumni you may know that could recommend some churches. Then, consider traveling together as a family to visit at least one of those churches when you do a college visit. Lastly, talk through the options with your child. What did they prefer? What do they value?
Just as your child was once in training to be a driver, now they are learning how to handle the responsibility of life on their own. This process starts at the core with faith. When our relationship in Christ is growing, all other aspects of life will grow too. Once you begin to lead the Spiritual Development piece of this plan, the next one to begin looking at is Life Management.