By Lucy Johnston, Margo Lawson, and Vivian Crawford
I'm struggling to make time for God, how can I fix that with my busy schedule?
This can be tough and definitely something we are all working on getting better at. In high school, it can feel so hard balancing everything on your busy schedule, and you feel like you don’t have time for God, but the truth is you always do. There is so much pressure to read CHAPTERS a day, but the most important thing is to get His word in, even if that means you can only read a few verses some days.
One thing I like to do when I wake up, to get my day started, is listen to worship music. It helps me get in the right mood and prepare me for my day even when I wake up too late to read my Bible in the morning. If you are struggling to make time for God, then next time you are in the car, instead of turning on your favorite pop or country music, turn on some worship music and I promise it will make your day so much better.
Another helpful tip is to listen to the Bible app, because you can do that while you are getting ready or while in the car as well. I prefer my physical Bible but I find the Bible app to be so helpful at times. Another awesome thing about the Bible app is that there are a million devotional options on there, so if you don’t know where to start or what to read, you can always follow along on a Bible plan.
Remember that it’s not about how much you read a day, but the quality of your reading. It’s better to read one verse and fully understand it than to read a chapter at night when you are falling asleep and won’t remember a thing you read. Give yourself some grace because some days you aren't going to have the time to fully break down a whole chapter and study it well, and that is okay.
I’m struggling with thoughts of self-doubt.
This is a very hard situation as many people, unfortunately, struggle with thoughts of self-doubt or have a problem feeling like they are “good enough.” This can be a very difficult thing to go through, but there are some things you can do to help yourself overcome these thoughts.
The first thing should always be talking to someone. If you have someone in your life, a friend, parent, or other guardian that you feel comfortable around, talk to them about these thoughts, because people around you care and want the best for you.
Now, there are certainly techniques or mindsets that you can put yourself in that will help with these thoughts, so I will go through just a few that might help you get to a place where you have a healthier mindset.
The first is to not compare yourself to others. In the world we live in, it can be very easy to scroll through Instagram and constantly find people who have “better” lives than you or who have everything figured out. Sometimes it might help to take a step back and realize that everyone is different from how they portray themselves online, and spend some time away from the internet if you have a really hard time comparing yourself.
The second is to actively practice self-compassion. Affirm yourself of your past achievements, things you are good at, or like to do. You are your worst critic, so being compassionate with yourself often can help you catch when you start talking down to yourself or doubting your abilities.
Finally, remember you’re human! Show yourself compassion, treat yourself with grace, and never be afraid to seek help, because asking for help does not make you weak; it makes you brave.
What should I do on Halloween if I don’t want to dress up and go out?
This is a good question! First of all, it's important for you to know that it is okay for you to not want to go out. Not everyone is interested in Halloween like that! Instead, there are plenty of things that you can do instead.
One thing that comes to mind is just staying in, popping some popcorn, grabbing a big blanket, and plopping yourself down on the couch to watch a movie, either with a few friends or just by yourself. If you want to stay in the spirit of things, you could put on a movie like Halloweentown, Harry Potter, or Hocus Pocus, but if you’re not necessarily in the mood for something spooky, I recommend putting on something that just feels cozy like You’ve Got Mail or Fantastic Mr. Fox.
One of my personal favorite fall activities is baking. Some ideas that come to mind are pumpkin bread, pumpkin pie, apple pie, and snickerdoodle cookies. I consider these all to be fall staples and find that making them is a great pastime with a delicious reward.
Those are just a couple of ideas of things to do, but I promise that there are plenty of activities out there that you can participate in that don't include dressing up and going out. Remember that not everyone likes the same things, so if you would rather just stay in and watch a movie on Halloween, that is perfectly fine. Do whatever feels right to you!
I got a bad grade on something I thought I did well on. Where do I go from here?
This is a tough situation that I think a lot of us can relate to. I know that I can. The most important thing to remember is that you are not defined by your grades. I know a lot of the time we can feel like that’s all that matters, but in reality, what matters most is that you tried your best. If you really put in the effort, studied, and learned in the process, then I think that is something to be proud of, regardless of the grade you get back.
At the end of the day, we go to school to learn and to grow our minds, and as long as you can confidently say that you are doing that, then you are on the right track. I know a bad grade can be really discouraging, especially when you were sure that you did well, but the best thing to do in this situation is to accept it, learn from your mistakes, and do better next time.
Also, remember that your teachers are there for a reason. If there’s anything you need to discuss with them regarding your grade and how you can do better going forward, talk to them about it. Ask them questions. You never know until you try.
Overall, remember that this grade does not define you as a student and it does not represent your level of intelligence as a whole. Use this as a stepping stone to make sure that you grow in the future. We are all still learning, and one bad grade does not make a bad student.
Need advice? Send your questions in here and we will answer them in our next issue!
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