Author Archives:
A Crisis of Faith? Questions and Doubts for Transitioning College Students
This past weekend I had the privilege of presenting a College Transition Seminar at Mount Lebanon United Presbyterian Church in Pittsburgh, PA. The event was sponsored by Christ Community Church of the South Hills and the Coalition for Christian Outreach. At the same time and location, CPYU president, Walt Mueller, presented a seminar for parents and youth workers on Understanding Today’s Youth Culture. It was a fun day, filled with very meaningful conversations.
During my seminar for transitioning high school students and their parents, a parent made a comment that was very helpful. I was discussing the place of doubt within the life of a follower of Christ. One of my main points I really wanted the students to grasp was this: “It is okay to ask questions and to have doubts about faith.” In fact, I explained, doubting is part of the normal process of taking ownership of their faith. I challenged students with these words: Read the rest of this entry
Learning Matters to God
A new study by two university professors leads to a shocking discovery: many students don’t learn very much in college. The findings of the study were recently reported in a groundbreaking book, Academically Adrift: Limited Learning on College Campuses by Richard Arum and Josipa Roksa. The picture is grim. Forty-five percent of students “did not demonstrate any significant improvement in learning” during the first two years of college, and thirty-six percent didn’t demonstrate much learning over four years of college. The authors note that many students drift “through college without a clear sense of purpose.” The main reason very few students are learning much in college is “lack of academic rigor.” The majority of students are not being pushed very hard in their studies. In fact, studying outside of class is at an all-time low, accounting for less than 14 hours a week for most students. Read the rest of this entry
College Debt: The Financial Burden Many Students Can’t Afford
Last spring I was driving a recent college graduate to lunch to celebrate the completion of his degree. He had a very difficult four years of college and was excited about the next chapter of his life story. I asked him if he was graduating with much debt. “I’m one of the lucky ones,” he responded. “I’m only graduating with $50,000 of debt from student loans. Many of my friends have a lot more debt than me!”
What? I almost drove the car off the road. $50,000! I knew the type of degree he had earned, and I knew of his plans for graduate school. I couldn’t imagine being 22 years old, carrying that much debt. And he is one of the lucky ones? Read the rest of this entry
College as Calling?
If you could put all of your thoughts, feelings and emotions about to college into one word, what would that one word be? I like to ask this question when speaking to college bound high school students. Most often I hear the following: scared, nervous, stress, money, freedom, party, excited, adventure and opportunity. I then challenge the group to consider another word: Calling. Should college simply be the assumed next step after high school or should we be thinking more deeply about this major decision? What would it look like if we thought of college as a calling? Read the rest of this entry
Help College-Bound Students Find Christian Community on Campus
One of my favorite questions to ask college students is this: what was the best advice you were given before going to college? Here’s a response I received a few weeks ago at a picnic: “My youth pastor told me to be intentional about finding Christian community. He was so emphatic about it that I remember frantically walking around campus asking everyone I met if they knew about any Christian groups. One of the first people I talked to was a Christian and she’s one of my best friends today. Together we were able to find a group and get connected to a church.” This story reminds us of two things we all need to know about students transitioning to college.
First, the first two weeks of college are critical. Nationally, 25 percent of students do not return to the same school for their sophomore year. Many colleges and universities have discovered that they can significantly reduce this number by helping students find good, supportive community quickly.
Second, the opening story reminds us that Christians need to intentionally seek out Christian community on campus. During the first few weeks of college, students are bombarded with different activities to fill their schedules. Everything is new: people, buildings, classes, meal times. Many students are navigating these daily activities on their own for the first time. It’s easy to drop worship and “Bible study” from an already hectic schedule.
Youth workers can play a vital role in helping students get connected to Christian community before they head off to college. Consider using a youth group night to talk to college bound youth about the value and importance of community and church. Take time to visit college websites to find what Christian groups are available on campus. Encourage students to track down the college leaders and make contact with them before they reach campus. Helping students find a place to belong can make all the difference in the world as they transition to college.
Check out www.CPYU.org/CollegeGroups to learn more about national college ministries and to discover the college campuses where they are located.
