Podcast Episode 72 – College Student Testimony: Blake Smith

Blake Smith, a football player at Huntington College, reflects on his faith journey from high school to college. After multiple sports injuries in high school, Blake began to question God but eventually grew closer to Him, prioritizing Bible reading and church involvement. In college, he faced loneliness and temptation but found community through church and his team. Leading Bible studies and staying grounded in his faith helped him navigate college life. Blake advises high school seniors to be intentional about finding Christ-centered friendships and a church, as “what you seek, you’ll find” in college.

 

Available on your favorite podcast platform

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The Importance of Budgeting & Tracking Spending in College

Budgeting might not sound like the most exciting part of college life, but it’s one of the most essential skills you’ll need to master. Without a budget, it’s easy to overspend, rack up debt, or run out of money when you need it most. Here’s why budgeting is crucial for college students and how to start tracking your spending to stay financially healthy.

 

Why Budgeting Matters

When you’re living on your own for the first time, it’s easy to underestimate how quickly expenses can pile up. From buying groceries to paying for textbooks and social activities, without a clear plan

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Needs vs Wants: Understanding Priorities in Your Finances

As you prepare to transition to college, you’re likely excited about new freedoms, but with freedom comes responsibility—especially when it comes to your finances. One of the first lessons you’ll learn is how to distinguish between needs and wants, a skill that will help you manage your money wisely and avoid unnecessary financial stress.

 

What are Needs?

Your needs are the essentials, the things you must pay for to survive and succeed. This includes tuition, textbooks, housing, food, and transportation. These are non-negotiables. If you don’t meet these basic needs, you’ll find it hard to focus on school and maintain

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Podcast Episode 71 – Finances 101

In this conversation, Tommy and Jordan Acer explore financial preparedness for college students. They debunk common misconceptions, such as the idea that all college students are broke, and highlight the risks of credit card debt and the value of maintaining a budget. Jordan stresses the importance of financial conversations between parents and high school seniors before college, along with tracking expenses and differentiating between needs and wants. They also touch on the significance of financial planning and share tips on saving and investing for the future.

 

Questions to consider while listening: 

  • How can tracking your spending over a few months
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Dealing With All The Deadlines

Senior year can feel like a whirlwind of deadlines—applications, scholarships, financial aid, and all the while you’re trying to enjoy your final year of high school. It’s a lot to manage, but staying organized and proactive can help you stay on top of everything.

 

Here are some tips for dealing with the deadlines:

 

1. Break It Down

The entire college application process can feel overwhelming when viewed as one giant task, so break it into smaller steps. Focus on one deadline at a time—start with college applications, then move to financial aid forms, and then tackle scholarships. Prioritize tasks based

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Choosing the Right College: Factors to Consider

Choosing the right college is one of the most significant decisions you’ll make as a high school senior. It’s not just about academics—this decision can shape your social experiences, personal growth, and career path. With so much to think about, it’s important to break the process down and evaluate key factors before making your choice.

 

Here are some important things to keep in mind:

 

1. Academic Strength and Major

Do you already know what major you want to pursue? If so, look into schools that are strong in that field. Even if you’re undecided, research universities with a wide variety

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Podcast Episode 70 – College Admissions and Scholarships

In this episode, Brent Latta, director of counseling at Briarwood Christian School, discusses the main challenges high school seniors face, including tension with parents, college uncertainty, and future anxiety. She advises students to prioritize faith, take things one step at a time, and focus on upcoming deadlines. Latta highlights important college factors like major, location, affordability, and involvement opportunities, along with tips for finding scholarships and navigating the FAFSA process. She encourages seniors to enjoy their final year, get involved, and seek support from counselors and parents.
 
Questions to consider when listening: 
  • How can you prioritize your faith to help
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Applying the Information

On Monday, we released Episode 69 on the Launch Mission Podcast – Building a Roadmap for Growth in College with Katie Bulmer. To enhance your listening experience, we will provide you with a few thought-provoking questions for greater digestion of the conversation! 

 

If you haven’t listened to the episode yet, could you go back and do that first? Like, right now 🙂

Moving forward, these questions will be provided in Monday’s weekly blog post highlighting the drop of a new episode– So keep an eye out! 

 

Questions to consider while listening:  

  • How can I avoid comparing myself to others, especially
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Embracing YOU

One of the biggest challenges in today’s world is learning how to fully embrace who you are, especially when it feels like everyone around you has their life figured out. In a world dominated by social media, it’s all too easy to fall into the trap of comparison. But if there’s one thing you need to carry with you into this next stage of life, it’s this: you are enough, just as you are. Here’s how to embrace the real you and thrive without falling into the comparison trap.

 

  • Stop Comparing Your Life to Others! Comparison is a thief of
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Using Your Influence for Good

As you prepare to step out of high school and into a new chapter of life, it’s essential to realize that you have an incredible opportunity to influence the world around you. Influence isn’t just for celebrities or people in leadership roles. Every person, including you, has the ability to impact those around them—whether it’s your friends, classmates, or even your online community. The key is to recognize this power and use it for good.

 

1. Step Into What’s Already Happening There’s a common misconception that you need a huge platform or a groundbreaking idea to make a difference. In

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