Watch the video above and talk about it with a group or mentor. Learn more.
It’s a big choice, but at the end of the day God’s got you.
College can be a big adventure and wonderful experience, but applying to college is often stressful. Relying on God can ease the stress and help you keep a healthy perspective.
Video Highlights:
- College applications require a lot of time and work and can make you feel like your entire future depends on how you answer the questions and present yourself in the application. This is on top of all the homework and studying you are already doing in high school to even allow you to apply to colleges. With all of this inevitably comes worry and stress, and not just from your own work but knowing that you have to rely on others such as counselors and teachers. You can start to feel simultaneously like you have too much to do, and also like so much is out of your hands.
- There are some ways to help you better handle the application process. The first tip for handling the pressure of college applications is putting in the work ahead of time. The more you can be prepared ahead of the due date, the more control you have over making everything look and sound good, and this gives those who are helping you plenty of time to do their part as well.
- While it is helpful to do what you can to help your cause, the best way to handle college application stress, and any stress in life, is to remember to trust God. The Bible has many verses that remind us that God is the one in control, and that with him in charge we truly do not have to worry. Keeping our focus on God’s kingdom and accepting that he has a plan for our lives will help keep a positive perspective.
You can do everything in your power to make your college application as good as possible, but God is the only real answer to fighting worry and stress. God has a plan for your life and it may look different than you realize, but as long as you trust in him you can know that you are heading down the right path.
Discussion Questions:
- Watch the video together or invite someone to summarize the topic.
- What is your initial reaction to this video? Do you disagree with any of it? What jumped out at you?
- What is the most stressful part of college applications for you? If you haven’t applied to college yet, what are you most concerned about when that time comes?
- Do you think stress and worry can get in the way of your relationship with God? If so, how?
- How do you feel about God having a plan for your life? Does it bring you more comfort or concern that it might be different than your plan?
- Write a personal action step based on this conversation.
