If you asked me what I got in my high school Chemistry class, I would tell you, “An A and two C’s!” Why? Not because I took the class three times, but because I got the A and my two friends, who I let cheat off my homework and tests, got the two C’s! Unfortunately, when I was in high school, even though the teachers told us not to cheat, it wasn’t a big deal. I didn’t understand how my choices in school affected my relationship with Jesus.
I distinctly remember my first day of senior year. I pulled into the school parking lot in my red 1994 Nissan Sentra (thanks Dad!) and walked into my homeroom like I had done everyday the three years before. Nothing around me was dramatically different. The people, the classrooms, and the schedule were all relatively familiar. However, there was one thing that was a little different – me. I held my head a little higher and my confidence was stronger. Why? Because I was a senior. Finally!
I anticipated my senior year to be full of memories and growth. It was the year I would take my first steps into adulthood, and the year that I would have to make big decisions about what I wanted to do next. Like many of you, I was excited and overwhelmed all at the same time.
Surviving High School, eh? When I think back on junior year, what are the lessons I’d pass on about having a great time… hmm. I’ve been thinking about this for a few weeks, and I think I can sum it up in one sentence.
Bring on the haters.
Sophomore year is a tricky time. You’re not the youngest anymore – you know your way around the campus and the high school life. You’re also not close to graduating yet, so those college apps aren’t piling up on your desk causing you or your parents added stress. You’re the best part of the high school Oreo – you’re right in the middle. Mmmmm, Oreos…
Sophomore year might best be described as a year of opportunity. This year you have the opportunity to become who you are, who God designed you to be (Jer. 1:4-8). This year offers you all new ways to really make an impact on the school, in other peoples’ lives and in your own faith walk.
You can probably still remember what it feels like to walk down the halls of your junior high or middle school. As an 8th grader, you might have felt like you owned the building. It feels so much better when you know where all the classrooms are, who most of the teachers are, and the fastest way to get your lunch. All that seems to be a distant memory as the first days of high school are here. It can be tough to go from an environment/school where you know everyone and how to get around to a bigger school with bigger halls, larger classes, and shorter lunch periods. How do you make that transition into high school a little easier?
Many of us have experienced transforming spiritual experiences during the summer; through camps, conferences, retreats, and mission trips we have made huge strides to grow closer to Christ – and in a sense, fatten our spiritual wallets. We’ve built up something I call “spiritual currency,” because in the same way we can save up money working a summer job, we have built up grace through our holy encounters this summer.
These encounters with Christ might begin to lose momentum as school approaches and as we catch up with people who didn’t experience our summer. This is the key moment when we’re tempted to “sell” our spiritual currency to fit in and be accepted. The price to fit in is high this first month, and you’ll be tempted to sell your integrity to fit into the party stories, to sell your chastity to fit into a relationship, to sell your morality to fit into a group of people, or to sell your dignity to avoid rejection – but beware the back to school “sales.”
I have never been a big reader. Whenever we were assigned books in school, I always waited until the last minute to read them. If we had an essay or research paper to write, I would normally use big words and craft and essay or paper that sounded like I knew what I was talking about. I have started plenty of books, but finished very few. I could never find anything that interested me. When I began to do more spiritual reading, however – reading that helped me in my faith journey – I found that I actually enjoy reading.
Here are a few books that have challenged me and given me something to reflect on and put into practice in my journey with God. Some of them are more challenging than others but I have faith and confidence that with God’s help you will be able to get through these books.
I’m going to warn you right up front: Junior year is a time to put the pedal to the metal. High school’s halfway over and the life beyond these four years is starting to creep in. A new job, a spot on the varsity team, AP classes… throw in the start of college applications and ACTs and it might seem like there’s no time for your faith life.
Not true. Actually, junior year is one of the best times to grow in faith and to make it something personal; it’s a chance to put what’s been learned into action. So that’s why this list is tougher than the others (you’ll have to check out the others and see if you agree with me).
Sophomore year! Freshman blues are far behind, drivers’ licenses are just around the corner, and we’re finally getting the hang of this whole “high school” thing… at least, that was my sophomore experience.
I put together a list of books that I’d recommend a sophomore to read, and you’ll notice they’re all pretty different. That’s intentional, because as you make the transition from ‘just out of middle school’ to ‘young person,’ you might find that there’s a certain part of our faith that’s most exciting to you.
As a former English teacher, I can remember that moment all of my students dreaded – when the summer reading list was handed out. There you sit, awaiting summer and all of its possibilities and then you receive an assignment.
Then, a few months later, the moment of truth arrives when your new English teacher announces the writing assignment that will cover the book you read over the summer. I remember hearing, “What, there was a summer reading list?”
Senior year. Almost done… only ten months stand between you and the pomp and circumstance of graduation. For some of you, it can’t come soon enough; for others, you’re looking for as much time as possible to figure out what you actually want to do. Wherever you are (and wherever you’re going), you’re gonna need to be talking to God. To help, here’s the “Prayer of the Senior,” contributed by Fr. Matt Lowry.
Decisions, decisions… Junior year is going to be full of them, but we’ll help you out with one: you should pray. Take the time each day, in the midst of the busyness of homework and home room, to ask God to be with you. For a starting point, here is the “Prayer of the Junior,” written by Fr. Paul Salemi.
It goes without saying, but praying is essential for life as a Catholic. Sophomore year is a unique place to be, as you get the hang of your high school hallways and move ever closer to becoming and upperclassman. To help start off this year, here is the “Prayer of the Sophomore,” written by Fr. Matt Lowry.
Who doesn’t need more prayer? We can all use some more time talking with God, especially as school starts. If you’re a freshman, there’s a whole new world you just stepped in to: high school. First in our series of prayers, here’s the ‘Prayer of the Freshman,’ brought to us by Fr. Paul Salemi.
Over the summer, I met a lot of teenagers that like the idea of being 100% Catholic, but they are afraid that people will make fun of them for “being into God.” They told me that it’s easy to be a good Catholic at church or with their youth group, but once they get in their high school hallways, it’s too hard to be different. They don’t want to be mocked or criticized. Last week I talked about how to deal with this through prayer, but this week I want to go deeper about this fear of being rejected because of your Catholic faith. So let’s talk about this statement: “They’ll make fun of me.” Is this fear of rejection valid?
Once again, it is upon us. The dawn of a new school year looms on the near horizon, ushering forth every emotion from uncontrollable excitement and anticipation to a dread and anxiety rivaled only by root canals. It’s time to go back to school, my brothers and sisters!
I’d like to dedicate this short reflection to all those people who for so many years have dedicated themselves to the often thankless and perpetually underpaid field of education. Teachers deserve our thanks and our praise. In my own life, there are many that I’d like to thank personally…
Welcome to the new site! Okay, I know it’s a few weeks old, but this is the first chance I’ve had to officially welcome all of you to the re-launched LifeTeen.com! As you’ve probably noticed, you can now share all our content on your Facebook or Twitter, we have an improved search, and our look has been totally revamped. For the next few months, we’ll be trying out something new: monthly themes that focus our content on what’s happening in your life. We’ll still be holding a Catholic lens to pop culture and responding to the big stories in the media, but now we’re adding an in-depth, month long focus on one big topic.
Like it or not, school will be starting soon. That reality can stir in a lot of emotions in you: fear, excitement, dread, or panic. That’s okay.
