School Supplies

With back-to-school season in full effect and me heading into my senior year of college (omg??) I knew I wanted to talk about going back to school. I have learned so much about myself in every level of education I was at and there are so many things I wish I would’ve known before I went through those experiences. Of course, we know all the basic school supplies you will need like laptops, notebooks, calculators etc, but I feel like we don’t talk enough about the internal things you are going to need to take with you to be successful at whatever level of schooling you are at. Today, I want to talk about 3 internal things you are going to need to take with you to show up as your best self this upcoming school year, or really in life, in no particular order.

1) Self-Esteem

Self-Esteem is defined as confidence in one's own worth or abilities; self-respect. I’ve always been taught to have high self esteem, but it’s a lot easier said than done. When you enter a new chapter, especially in school, you are met with a whole lot of ‘new’. New faces, new buildings, new feelings. Everything is so fresh and that can be intimidating and induce feelings of self-doubt, which is normal. It is important to know who you are, so you can then build up your self-esteem and self-worth. Meeting with new people means being introduced to brand-new opinions and perspectives. Growing up you think your way is “the way” and it is kind of shocking to be out of that and see all the other ways people live and think. If you aren’t careful you will begin to look at what they have and compare it to what you have or adopt their opinions as your own. Comparison is the thief of joy and you will quickly attract feelings of anxiety and insecurity and leave yourself feeling depleted & sad, if you don’t have a high sense of self. You have to know that God designed you with the perfect plan for cultivation. He didn’t make you perfect, but He made you in His image, so that you can then be made perfect in Him. He made you, so that everything you experience in this life can be used for His Glory and your intentional development into who He called you to be. You have to understand that you are where you are for a reason and you are perfectly equipped for the journey you are about to embark on. Trust where He has you and embrace what makes you an individual. Remain authentic to yourself and your core values. You will be going through your own personal development that will invoke many different emotions out of you and through all the whirlwind of  internal transformation, you have to remind yourself of what keeps you grounded in who you are. Negative feelings will come; they are a part of any new chapter. Feelings of anxiety and being unsure about yourself or where you are is, apart of the experience. You have to remain diligent in not allowing those feelings to take residence in your mind. Feel them, acknowledge them, then set them free. Know that those feelings don’t belong to you. Remember who you are and that you were made for a time such as this. Understand that those feelings are only the result of current circumstances, and are not truths to keep or repeat. 

2) Confidence 

Self-Esteem and Confidence go hand in hand. It’s typically hard to have one without the other, but not impossible. In fact, a combo we often see is the “high self-confidence and low self esteem.” This is often the loudest person in the room; constantly trying to fill the space, so the other occupants in the room can’t see the mask slipping. They still can though and they probably get second-hand embarrassment watching you try to pretend to be something you haven’t grown into. To have confidence, make sure that it is truly built on high self esteem, self efficacy and self-worth; not false securities. You have to know that you are the only “you” in this world and that is your greatest power. Know that other people won’t get you and your plan and they are not supposed to. That doesn’t have any implications on you or your character; We all have our own journey that is tailor-made just for us. As long as it makes sense to God (and you) that is all that matters. Settle with who you are and own it. The world needs whatever you have or you wouldn’t be on it. 

3) Purpose  

This is arguably the most important. Do nothing without a purpose. Constantly ask yourself why; always go beyond the first thought. Remember why you are where you are whether that is to make connections, get good grades, have fun; always represent your purpose well. Everything is always going to be changing and evolving, nothing lasts forever. You need to remember your purpose for that season, so you don't get stuck where you're at. If you are in middle school you’re hitting puberty; you like boys/girls, you want friends, your parents are lame, you have an attitude; real bad. You and your peers have really strong opinions about stuff you may not know much about and each other. It’s a lot going on at once and it is a part of that phase of life and it will pass. Make sure that when the fog clears you don’t look back and only see gray. Be grateful for everything and remember your reason for this season. Love yourself the change and represent yourself well. You belong to Somebody. If you’re in high school, you have four years to prepare yourself for your next, whether that’s the work-force, Army or College you have to remember that the steps you take now will be preparing you for that. Be intentional about the access to yourself you give out to others, you don’t know who you will be. Be mindful of what you put online, your digital foot-print if forever, like ever-ever. Do what you have to do in high school, so you’re not still always looking back on what you should have or could have done. Be safe; remember there are consequences, good and bad, for every action you take. If you are in college, you have 4 years; maximize those years within whatever your purpose is and make sure you are ready for your next step, so you can let it go. It’s harder to transition into adulthood when you are focused on what those four years meant to you, hold it near to your heart and allow it to fuel you into your next, not always look back. The same principles really apply to all grades and all transitions in life. 

I feel like I kind-of knew these things, but they got kind of fogging once I started experiencing more grade levels and more life. This is just your friendly reminder that the internal is way more important than the external and your light will shine through if you allow it. Let the external beauty be a reflection of the beauty within. 

Thanks for Reading! Do you think these three things are necessary for your next? Let me know your thoughts in the comments & share this with someone headed back to school! 

TH