It’s that time of year again. Stores are stocked with school supplies and students aging from kindergarten to college are longing to spend a few more hours at the pool, watch a few more movies, travel, be lazy, do anything but work hard and study.

I, personally, always hated the start of the fall semester. It only meant four straight months of cramming loads of knowledge into my “Jimmy Neutron” sized brain and forcing myself to read books and literature I could have cared less about.

Now, however, I have graduated college. I am free to read whatever I want and not be burdened by classes. Yet, I know there are more than a few people out there who are like me. There are those who feel misunderstood, who feel under-appreciated. There are those who work really hard to survive in school, while feeling down as they feel others have to do a lot less.

That is why I have decided to come up with a list of ten tips. These tips are bits of advice I would have given myself during school. They are also bits of advice I could learn from now.  My hope is that as you read these tips, though everything in your life may not be “awesome,” that you will know that you can have success, make it in school, and that you can have victory in life with and through Jesus!

10. Never feel too old or pompous enough to not receive support, especially from your family.

There have been times when I have felt I could do things on my own but there have often been times as well when I could not. I thus cannot stress the importance of seeking out help when you truly need it. Whether it’s from family, teachers, friends, or counselors, if you feel you need help, reach out! We were never meant to be alone.

9. Find support through your local church and/or college ministry.

I also cannot overemphasize the importance of this. All throughout our academic careers, as students we are given many messages from not only our teachers, but our friends as well as the world. All the conflicting messages can create a spiritual confusion where it can be hard to discern the truth. That is why, whether you’re in elementary or graduate school, it is crucially important to be involved in a Bible believing church with solid, genuine believers. By being involved in community, you will be continually reminded of the truth.

8. Make an effort to talk to someone every day, even if it’s just saying “Hey.”

No matter the age, as students we often have the hardest time, more than any other age group, of making “small-talk” with others. If we find someone who is different from us, we often ignore them or simply laugh at them. As someone with a mental illness, I have been the one insulted and I have insulted others. Through my experience though, I have come to know, that if I say “Hey,” to someone, that my greeting towards them could change the outcome of their day. I have also come to know, that if someone says “Hey,” to me, I can then look them in the eye and not be scared of them anymore.

7. Be involved as much you can.

School can be demanding and teachers can often set unrealistic demands and homework loads. For example, I never could understand how some English professors could expect students to read four or more novels a week. Though school should be a priority, as a student, you should find an outlet of escape. Whether it’s a club, athletic, or Christian organization, I believe that if you are involved just slightly outside of school, that you will experience a form of inner strength you would not have found otherwise.

6. Set a schedule for yourself, with all reminders, phone etc, necessary.

As I said previously, school can and will be demanding. Along with the pressures of school, many other things will demand your time and attention. You will have various appointments, pressures from work, etc. That is why it is crucial that you make use of modern technology and set alarms and reminders so you will remember everything you need to keep up with. For, trust me, if you don’t, you will forget something!

5. Break apart tasks into more manageable, “micro” tasks.

The pressures of school, as mentioned above, can be overwhelming. That is why, when it comes to homework, it is important that you “break” assignments down. For example, try reading only a certain amount of pages a day, then taking a break, or researching for only a few hours then moving on to something else. Though this won’t solve all of your problems, it will definitely help you achieve a little more work in the long run.

4. Be fed, physically and spiritually.

My life was crazy during college. My sleep schedule was also hectic and random. I often read my books late into the night, and woke up running to classes, no socks, hair sticking up everywhere. Breakfast on those days usually consisted of a Crunch bar and a Coke. Reading the Bible was something I often put off but cherished when I got to truly study it. Through my past chaos and my more stable situation now, I also cannot overemphasize the importance of being fed physically and spiritually. For, if I did not seek out real food and turn to my Father in Heaven, you would not be reading these words right now.

3. Exercise as often as possible.

School can be so overwhelming that the only muscle you may ever stress may be your brain. Though it can be hard to work out 3-4 or more times a week, everyone can exercise wherever they are. Even if it’s walking or just doing something for a few minutes a day, there are numerous resources and outlets for your benefit. All you have to do is reach out for them.

2. Go to bed, as early as you can.

I was often told to go to bed early during school. Yet, I had difficulty often doing that because of the workload from my classes. However, I found that I was more sane, when I “broke down” assignments, and went to bed earlier, that I had more energy, focus, and more to give to those around me. Though it will be hard, I believe that if you go to bed earlier, you will also find this to be true.

1. Set your focus, your hope and trust, on Jesus.

In conclusion, life is hard. There will always be difficult people and difficult circumstances. There will always be times when you will look at someone in envy, or like Ariel, look around and wish to be “part of another world.” However, it is only through Jesus that you will not only be able to make it school but in life as well.

Psalm 121 English Standard Version (ESV)

My Help Comes from the Lord

A Song of Ascents.