Welcome back! The start of the new school year is always filled with anxious excitement for me. I am motivated to start my new classes, and I love seeing friends on a regular basis again. I also look forward to making new friends and the many opportunities that God has in store for the next nine months of my life. It is truly one of the most exciting times of the year.

Normally going into a school year, I am focused solely on the coursework that I have in front of me and try to develop the best way to succeed in my classes. Balancing my education with the never-ending commitment to extracurriculars is a hard challenge to overcome, but one that must be done. This year is different, however, and I’m finding it to be more rewarding than ever before. Instead of being so caught up in the stress of everyday life, overwhelming amounts of coursework and overcommitting to every club known to man, I started this semester focused on God.

I can’t sit here and say that I am a changed man just because I’m focusing more on God and how he is acting in my life. I don’t feel that is the case, at least not yet. I am much happier, though. I’ve learned it is essential to treat others with love and nothing else. I’m not perfect at it, but I’m finding in situations where I was cynical before I am more patient and understanding. I am quicker to forgive where before I was judgmental. I know this sounds almost too good to be true, or that I am trying to make myself sound better than I am. That’s not the case at all.

 

The only thing I want others to take from my experience is that your college years fly by. Don’t spend so much time getting stressed by the small things. Take some time each week to be thankful for the good things and let go of the situations that went badly. Treat others with a loving heart, even if it’s not reciprocated. I wish I would have realized this much sooner than now.

Good luck with the start of class! I hope this school year proves to be one of the best!

God bless,

Shawn