Brief Advice for the Female Christian Graduate

As you move into a new stage of life & begin transitioning from awkward teenager to young adult, I want you to remember a couple things (in no particular order).
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 1. Change is a good thing. Whether it's your taste in clothes, the movies you watch, the hobbies you pick up, the different foods you try… change things up.
2. Remember who you are. Change is an amazing thing, but always remember what makes you you. Remember your morals. Remember your values. Remember your beliefs. Remember what your family taught you.
3. Figure out why you believe what you believe. This faith is no longer your parents, & they no longer force you to go to church. Your faith is your own, you will have to defend it, share it, & live with it for the rest of your life. So study apologetics, review the different creation theories, ask yourself tough questions, & research every bit you can. No one is going to do it for you anymore, so figure it out.
4. Respect yourself. Yes, I am talking about in relationships. Know your standards & don't settle for anything less.
5. Get involved & invest yourself. The worse thing you can do is sit in your dorm & feel sorry for yourself. My advice is to get out there. Go to sporting events with people from your class. Join a club that you're interested in. Attend the local church's college age ministry to meet like-minded individuals. Invite friends over to your house. Go out to coffee with someone new to get to know their story. Whatever the case may be, invest in the people around you.
6. Don't forget about your family. Your parents have spent the past 18 years of your life raising, teaching, praying for, & preparing you for this next chapter in life. It's okay to text them once everyday to let them know you're not stuck in a ditch somewhere. It's okay to call your dad if you're confused about finances. It's okay to cry to your mom about how hard life is. It's okay to call up your sibling to let them know that you miss them. Let your family know that you not only need to talk to them sometimes, but you actually want to talk to them.  ​