OFC Students: 3 Things I wish I Knew Before High School & Before College

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before HIGH SCHOOL:
Practice money and time management
Money:
Learn to save your money for a rainy day.
This isn’t the time when you should worry about buying everything with an expensive name brand.
Tith! Everything you get is from God. Give a portion back to Him! 10%
Time:
Make time to study because your grades DO matter
Make time to try new things & don't be afraid to fail
“Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting” (Prov. 31:30).
Since outward beauty cannot last, make time for growing a beautiful heart
Friendships come and go
Worry less about having the right friends and BE the right friend
“Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm” (Prov. 13:20).
Pick wise friends. Since Proverbs 9:10 tells us that the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom, wise friends need to be Jesus-loving friends.
Watch what crowd you run with
Not everyone is going to like you
You can be the prettiest, most sweet peach ever but there will still be someone who hates peaches
Anxiety and depression can be overwhelming
“The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked: who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9).
Your heart WILL trick you, especially at this age when your heart is being pulled in many directions
Don’t worry about anything that won’t matter in 5 years
Your high school years will not define you
Do not overwork yourself trying to please others
Everything you go through will not matter for long. Think about how long eternity is!

3 Things I Wish I Knew Before COLLEGE:

Change is inevitable
You will develop new habits
Study and work hard
Get involved in your school
“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged” (Deuteronomy 31:8).
You can make a plan but there is a 100% chance God will mix it up
You will appreciate your parents on a new level
“Owe no one anything, except to love each other, for the one who loves another has fulfilled the law” (Romans 13:8)
Parents are the first to show us that our love means more to them than any amount of money they have spent on us
They will still parent you first and foremost but they will begin to become your friends
Their love is unconditional and they will support you
A mutual trust will grow stronger and quality time will be better
Independence feels good but… overwhelming to the extreme. Guess who will be there to help you?
Do not compare yourself to where someone else is at in their life
You can do BIG things for the Kingdom where you are now
Its okay to not know what you want to do
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is- His good, pleasing and perfect will” (Romans 12:2)
It’s okay to live a different life than your friends
We tend to compare with worst of ourselves to the best of others
Comparison leaves us will nothing but envy, which is the same thing that led to the murder of Abel by Cain









(Closing) FOR BOTH:

Girls: boys still have cooties / Guys: girls still have cooties
Having a boyfriend or girlfriend isn’t necessary for your success
Everyone is created in God’s image
be kind
Take time away from the illusion that everyone is “perfect” like on social media
Not everything is as it seems

DISCUSSION QUESTIONS:

How are you preparing yourself for high school/college? What is something that stood out to you tonight that you would like to do better at?
If you are comfortable sharing, what is your biggest fear about going into high school/college? What are you most excited for?