College Bound Advice… for All

If you are a parent with a college bound teen, you may feel like you want some advice on how to handle it. As a parent, you want so many things for your children. You want to raise them to be kind, smart, hardworking, socially adept. You want them to be successful in… welp, pretty much everything! Now that my oldest is off to college I can only hope that I’ve instilled all that I’ve needed to instill in her. She and I were laughing the other day about how I’ve had to say, “Well, now you know,” so many times. Or I’ll teasingly tell her, “You’re ready for college!” when she does something small and mundane like finally getting a jar of jam open that she couldn’t get to budge.

College Bound Advice… for Parents

Now, as I sit and think about it, I am the one that needs college bound advice. Advice on how to deal with my precious daughter moving out. How to not cry due to her absence at upcoming birthdays and events. Not to mention, how to refrain from the urge to call her every few hours, especially if she doesn’t answer. Whether or not I should turn off Life 360 now that she’s an adult and halfway across the country!

Really, I am not in an uncommon situation. So many parents have already dealt with what I’m about to deal with, including my own parents. And in all actuality, the advice for myself is to not worry so much about all the information that I’ve already given her. I can still give her advice. We can still talk as often as we want. If she’s in a bind, I know she will call me to get sound advice and help with whatever she may be faced with. I did the same when I moved thousands of miles away to another state at the young age of 18. I would call my mom for help with the smallest of tasks. “My disposal is not working…” “I need help with this bill that came in the mail…” “I have to call the cable company…what do I say?!”

College Bound Advice… for My Teen

Even so, there are still some things I want her to remember.

1. Be friendly and sympathetic.

You are already a friendly person. You make friends easily, and keep friends easily. You are drama free and enjoy spending time hanging out and laughing. A lot of laughing is always to be had when hanging out with you. Try to also be empathetic towards those around you. Put yourself in the other person’s shoes when a disagreement arises. Whether you have professor who assigns a lot of work, or a boss that doesn’t understand, or even a classmate not pulling their weight on a project, try to be patient.

2. Be serious about classes and classwork.

You rocked high school both academically and socially. I imagine you’ll continue that same frame of mind in college. Remember, college is expensive. I’m glad you’re paying for a portion, because this will help you make the good decision to go to class when you may not feel like it. Of course if you’re sick and can’t move, stay in and get well. But on the days when you’d rather sleep, you still need to get to class or get up and do your work. Even though it may seem like you’re on a permanent beach vacation, being that you’re so close, count your blessings and keep your eye on the prize.

3. Make the right friends.

Again, the friends you’ve chosen in life so far could not be better! Each of your sweet friends have been kind, funny, loyal, and God-fearing. They have helped shape you, just as you have helped shape them. I see you being friends with these girls for a lifetime. I am so thankful for your friends! You have a good head about who is and who isn’t a good person to hang out with. I know you’ll continue to make good choices about the people you hang out with. Remember the old adage, that the friends you spend your time with will show me who you are. Will your friend group bring you up, encourage you, and inspire you to be better? You will want to do the same for them.

4. Make the right choices.

This advice sort of connects to the one above. You are SO smart!! Way smarter than me. You always impress me with your mental capabilities! When it comes to social situations, and choices placed in front of you, do your best to foresee any unfavorable outcomes, and then choose wisely. It would scare me if you were to be not in control of your self and unable to make clear decisions. I pray and hope that you will always be SO careful about what you choose to ingest, or inhale, whether that be drugs, alcohol, or even unhealthy foods. Know the dangers, and stay far away from them!

5. Know Whose you are.

Finally, you have already been and still are a beautiful, precious, smart, funny, kind, amazing gift from God. He gave you to me to care for 18 years ago, and I am forever thankful for that. You have shaped me just as I have shaped you. I love you more than life itself, and I know that God loves you even more than that. He has a plan for you and your life. If ever you feel like you don’t know that plan, or that a mountain is in your way, I want you to stop and pray and get in God’s Word so that He can help you. Obviously, I will also be there for you too. But no one and nothing is better than our God that created us. I love you baby girl. Keep shining bright.

If you’d like to read up on my other post about kids that are college bound, check it out here.