Dear College Student

graduation advice

People are not kidding when they say to treasure your college years because it goes by so fast. As I near graduation, I cannot help but reflect on what the Lord has done in me throughout my four years in college. Growth is a small, daily thing and often times we do not notice it. But with the benefit of perspective, I can look back at my four years and see that in each situation the Lord brought me to Himself and gained another piece of my heart.

If I could change one thing about my college experience it’s not that I would get all A’s in my courses or to involve myself more in campus but rather to start college off loving the Lord and consistently pursuing Him throughout. My Christian walk in college was not the easiest; I experienced some highs and some lows. But the Lord kept me and never gave me up. I wish I had known all that I do now when I was a freshman, which is why some seniors and I would like impart some “words of wisdom” to the colleges students—especially the freshmen.

“My advice would be to stay in fellowship with Jesus. No matter what you do, how you feel, or where you’re at, it is important to stay in fellowship with the Lord. It is how grace can be supplied to us. So be open to Him and come to the throne of grace with boldness daily. Without God’s grace, I don’t know where I would be and how I would be. Stay in the fellowship with the Lord. He is always worth it.”

–Melody Kao

“The things which are seen are temporary, but the things which are not seen are eternal” (2 Cor4:18). By the end of your college years, or even your life, what will matter the most to you and to God? Will you care that some of your homework was not finished or will you regret not being able to build something eternal in the time allotted you? You are in a very special time and place of your life, and it is here where you can begin to learn to build something eternal that satisfies both God’s heart and your heart. This is what you will look back on, not only at the end of your college years, but I believe you will even treasure this in eternity. Sometimes this can be as practical as deciding to go to the meeting over staying at home to study for tomorrow’s test. The test will pass away, but the Christ gained in that meeting sure won’t. I’m not saying don’t study at all and go to every meeting, but you get my point. Place yourself in the center of God’s plan, where there’s no way you can escape, or else a few years later you may wonder how you got so far away. Don’t make that mistake. This means go to the meetings, read God’s word every day, grasp every opportunity to stay in the fellowship. The kingdom of God is taken by force—violent men seize it (Matt. 11:12; Luke 16:16). We have to be active to let God accomplish His will. Fight to be in God’s purpose, because that is the only thing that has any value in this universe.”

–David Li

“Through my college experience I realized that I can be real with God and genuinely talk to Him, telling Him how I’m actually feeling, even asking Him to take a test with me! This is a practical way to open to Him so that He can come in.”

–Victoria Ong

“Congratulations on making it this far! Whether you realize it or not, you making it to UT (one of the best in the world \m/) is entirely sovereign of the Lord. You have an incredible opportunity not only to excel in academics but to grow in the divine life with some awesome companions. In the midst of your busy schedule, remember to turn to Lord and tell Him everything because it matters to Him concerning you (1 Pet. 5:7). It is important to find some companions and get into a home group, for there you will find the prayers and supply you need to get through your lowest times. Don’t forget to open up and speak to some of your friends about the Lord; they just may be looking for Him! Finally, I want to leave you with these verses, ‘Jehovah bless you and keep you; Jehovah make His face shine upon you and be gracious to you; Jehovah lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace’ (Numbers 6:24-26). May your college years be firmly established as an eternal memorial between you and the Lord.”

–Josh Shen

My final advice to the freshmen and the other college students is to spend more time in the fellowship and surround yourself with other believers. Being a part of Christian Students on Campus really changed me for the better. I made friends that will bring me to Christ and that is something to treasure. I have many friends at UT but it was my group of friends in CSOC that made the biggest impact on me because I received something eternal–Christ. I can say that I love God more than I did when I was a freshman. There are many things you can do on this campus, like academics, social groups, community service, or internships to name a few, but I can testify that I did not gain much from doing those things. When I look back on my college years (still can’t believe I’m graduating) I will remember the experiences I had with the people on CSOC. I was far away from God but a person working on staff with the club brought me back to God. I witnessed a freshman I was caring for get baptized. I preached the gospel almost once a week. Through it all, I realized that life was nothing without God. All of these things I will remember because others things are temporary but the things of God are eternal.

By: J. Zambrano