If your high schooler is college bound, you’ve probably considered academic preparation. But have you thought about how to get him or her spiritually and emotionally ready for leaving home? Today on Home School Heartbeat with host Mike Farris, one homeschool graduate considers several habits that helped her adjust to college.
Mike Farris:
Sarah Stockman is my guest today. Sarah graduated from homeschooling where she was in high school as her parents were missionaries in Kenya, Africa. She left Africa to come to Pensacola Christian College. Sarah, welcome to the program!
Sarah Stockman:
Thank you very much for having me!
Mike:
Sarah, being so far away from your family, what prepared you to deal with the spiritual and emotional strains of being away at college?
Sarah:
Well, I think one of the biggest things that helped prepare me was to already have the habit of having personal devotions in my own life. I know college is a big stress as most young people have never been away from home before, so to have already that habit was a solid foundation that I could rely on as I was so far away from home, so I think that was the biggest thing for me. Now something else was just to keep busy at college. That’s just a practical thing—to keep busy and not to have too much time to sit around. And when parents encourage their kids to keep busy, they help them not to be homesick, and also to get all kinds of good, broad horizons.
Mike:
Sarah, that all sounds really good for just about anyone. Is there any special thing that applies to just missionary kids?
Sarah:
Well, I think a big thing was to just enjoy being wherever you are, wherever the Lord has you. As a missionary child you get used to being in multiple different places, but to be comfortable in each place—that’s something special the Lord taught me as a missionary kid.
Mike:
That’s great. Thanks so much for joining me today! I’m Mike Farris.
