Advice to my first year self: take risks

Rachel Kotterer reckons she’s learnt a thing or two since her time as a first year uni student. Here’s the advice she’d give herself if she could go back and do it all again.

Hi there! What’s that, I look familiar? Sure do: take a look in that mirror and… okay, stop screaming. Yep, it’s me. I mean you. I mean… whatever. You get the picture. No, seriously, stop screaming. Yes, I look a little older. Sorry, not sorry. You see, I’ve learned a few things along the way, and I’d like to tell you a couple of things I wish I’d known when I was you. Youthful, energetic, first year uni student you. Like a Dickensian Christmas ghost, visiting old Ebenezer Scrooge, I’m here to impart some future wisdom into your present reality. Here we go…

Prepare for Adulting

You’re starting uni. You’re making decisions that will profoundly impact your future. You’re becoming an adult. But adulthood is way more than just the career you choose. If it were, I would tell you to spend all your time and energy on getting your degree. Don’t hear me wrong. Work hard. Do your best.  However, if I said that’s all you need to do, I would be giving you a very one-dimensional view of adulthood.  

Take Risks

Don’t tell Mum I’m saying this, but to make your preparation for adulthood well-rounded, I want you to take some risks.  

Firstly, risk the disapproval of sceptical friends and classmates, and get to know God better. Now is the time to make firm decisions about what you believe.  To that end, I want you to risk putting yourself out there to join an AFES group. This is a place where you can grow in God, and make friends who you’ll keep for life.  You will also want to risk earning a bit less money by taking time off work to attend the camps they invite you to. Trust me, you’ll thank me later. On that note, risk cutting your weekly work hours so that you have time for AFES meetings.

I want you to risk missing late-night texts by silencing your phone and GOING TO BED at a decent hour. Even though you’re not on the old ‘have to be at school by 8:30am daily’ schedule anymore, set your alarm so that you can make time for God, to talk to Him (prayer) and listen to Him (reading the Bible).  If you’re not intentional, you’ll probably find it doesn’t happen. Trust me, now’s the time to create good habits in this area. You won’t regret it.

“Risk the disapproval of sceptical friends and classmates”

I also want you to risk your grades. Investing in God, and investing in your Christian student group and the friends you make there, will mean not spending every second studying.  

Finally, risk being bold about what you believe. Don’t be intimidated by the lecturers, tutors and classmates who nay-say your faith. They may be experts in some areas, but that doesn’t make them experts in every area. Show them that Jesus is worth knowing. Give an answer for your faith, “with gentleness and respect” (1 Peter 3:15).

Well, me, that’s all from me for now. Prepare well for adulting. Take some risks.

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