Campus Life

As a competitive travel soccer player, I started thinking about college early on. By the time I was a freshman in high school, I was already reaching out to coaches and going on campus visits.   I eventually chose Trinity Christian College in Palos Heights, Illinois. I fell in love with the environment and the soccer program. Most importantly, Trinity offered an athletic scholarship as well as an academic one.  Now, as a senior on track to graduate one semester early,…

Things Parents Know Generally speaking, adolescents are shortsighted, focused on the immediate present rather than the future (that could be weeks or months away!), unwilling or unable to plan ahead, and are challenged to see the long-term consequences of their actions and choices. The Research Says it is Normal The maturation process - including development of the prefrontal cortex paired with hormonal changes - is influenced by a variety of external factors such as parent education, socioeconomic status, environmental conditions,…

Seeing your first child off to college is one of the more significant transitions parents face.   Advice abounds for parent adjustment to college, but as a parent who has been through this stage, I have some advice of my own to share. These tips will be most effective if you discuss them together as a family and agree on the decision. 1.  Accept that You’ll Miss Them If your child is going away to college and living away from home, this…

So many students are intimidated by college professors and with good reason.  The stereotypical professor is old, immersed in their own books and is way smarter than the student. Students assume correctly that professors are busy and they don’t want to waste their time. However, students need the mentorship of teachers.  Ideas and intellect grow with this nurturing.  Most faculty are excited about teaching young people. Many professors say that they sit at office hours waiting for students to come…

Leaving for college doesn't mean you have to leave your faith behind at home. And, choosing a faith-centered college over a public university doesn't automatically mean your faith during college will strengthen. Everyone knows that college has many distractions. Studying. Parties. Events. Travel. Relationships. It is easy to push aside the faith community of your youth. The years spent in college are a perfect opportunity for you to explore your faith and continue to grow spiritually. In fact, some students…

Many college students are simply unaware that they must look out for their own safety and security at college.  This may be the first time that they are away from home without a family member or close friend to look after them.  They must get used to new ways of doing things, a new place and a new schedule which may leave them walking around unfamiliar areas at odd times of the day and night. I always suggest that students find…