Praying For Your Student

Praying for Your Son or Daughter

Going away to school for the first time may be a difficult transition—for both you and your son or daughter. He or she will be facing a number of new challenges, and you might wonder how you can help from home. One of the best things you can do is pray. These are some suggestions for you as you pray for your child throughout the school year:

August

• Being away from home, family, and friends for an extended period of time
• Adjusting to a new culture and possibly a new climate
• Learning to share a bedroom, bathroom, and eating space
• Developing a good relationship with roommates
• Learning how to be wise with money

September

• Keeping up with the sometimes overwhelming pace of Spiritual Emphasis Days
• Learning how to deal with possible conflicts with roommates.
• Making wise choices in the midst of a lot of freedom all at once
• Overcoming concerns with grades; dealing with personal limitations
• Safeguarding faith in God
• Building strong friendships

October

• Exploring and developing new ideas
• Preparing for the academic stress of tests and major assignments
• Overcoming possible homesickness
• Time management, procrastination
• Staying healthy by exercising, eating well, and getting enough rest
• Learning to live with the challenges of residence living
• For a restful, enjoyable Thanksgiving weekend

November

• Dealing with the possible depression that comes with the onset of winter and very cold weather
• Avoiding sickness and fatigue

December

• Stress over final assignments
• Leaving friends and familiar surroundings for the holidays
• Perhaps saying goodbye to friends

January

• Perhaps adjusting to a new roommate
• Beginning new classes, possibly making up for a disappointing performance in the fall semester
• Missing friends who did not return to campus
• Getting back into studies after the holiday

February

• Missing one’s family

March

• Tests and assignments
• Low energy levels
• Making plans for next year’s classes and living arrangements

April

• Remaining focused on studies as the weather warms up
• Saying goodbye to friends, dealing with closure
• Anxiety over summer employment

May

• Thinking about coming home
• Searching for summer employment

June

• Missing friends
• Adjusting to life at home