Hi there
Happy Leap Year everybody! We at Soul Purpose hope you're enjoying the day that only comes once every four years.
In this issue we talk O-week – the joys and challenges of entering the big, wild world of university. If you've just navigated your first week of uni this article goes out to you; a little something to provide a worthwhile distraction to those books you should probably already be hitting!
Also, thanks to those who have expressed interest in supporting our new staff Editor, Ben Kendrew. We're still relying on faith that God will provide the financial support we need to keep him employed. His job is to manage and develop our writers, so by investing in Ben you're directly investing in the very essence of the Soul Purpose ministry - of communicating Jesus through the written word. If you're interested, flick us an email.
Enjoy what's left of your Leap Year Day!
Peace,
E.
Top 5 Excuses Used When Snapped Doing Grafitti
5. Is this spray paint? Oh man, the guy at Bunnings said it was chalk!
4. I just thought people should know where the "West Side" was, that's all.
3. Oh yeah sorry... The park bench was already full.
2. It's a mural, Miss.
1. In Germany, ve paint on ice all ze time.
O-Week: Embarking on a Gigantic Journey
by Ben Kendrew
Here we are again. The end of February signals the beginning of another university year in New Zealand and tens of thousands of ‘young adults’ dive into the wonderful world of tertiary education.
Heaps of school-leavers or OE-returnees are making their way to their first ever university lectures this week, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, many don’t have any comprehension of what they’re embarking on. Consider this: New Zealand’s largest school has a roll of under 3000 students, yet our universities each tally in the tens of thousands! When your understanding of learning has a picture of a 30-person class and then you enter a lecture theatre with 400 others, how do you prepare for that?
Then there are a few expectations on students. Our country is asking them to be tomorrow’s leaders, the decision-makers of the future, the movers and shakers of the world ahead. Parents’ expectations can be a little weighty too, get good grades, earn money, save money, complete your studies. Meanwhile, many have expectations of themselves and their mates: drink as much alcohol as you can lift to your mouth; blow as much of your student loan on perishable items as possible; work hard, party harder.
University is a bizarre environment. And university can be an intimidating environment.
Not only is it way bigger than school, but while you may have been head honcho, top dog and all that at Kaiapoi High School, all of a sudden you’re one of literally hundreds of other ‘top dogs’ at Canterbury University – and no one else even knows you’re all that.
Then there’s the aura of uni being a ‘thinking’ place. The kind of place where there are no absolutes, where debate, argument and discussion take precedence over beliefs and convictions. I’m starting to wonder why we want to spend much time in a place like this?!
The thing is, uni can be an awesome place, a place where you’re equipped and empowered to develop your skills and passions, a place where you can become the mover and shaker this country needs. You just need to make some wise decisions while you’re there, to think bigger-picture while those around you may only be thinking about the party coming up this weekend.
It helps to remember God’s promise that you’re not alone. Psalm 68:6 says that “God sets the lonely in families”, and while you may not feel lonely usually, stepping into uni life can make you wonder if anyone else cares. They do. That’s why it’s important to do life in community. Unis have a bunch of clubs and getting involved in some of those means you can meet people with similar interests. More important than clubs though is a church family.
During my first year at uni I floundered about, popping into churches every now and then, but never really getting set into one, because of that I didn’t really achieve everything I could have or hoped to, plus I made some really lame decisions. Early into my second year a classmate encouraged me to come along to his church, and I’ve been there ever since, knowing that being planted by the wellspring of life means we flourish more than we could by ourselves (Psalm 1:3).
Having good community and family helps you stay strong, especially with all that debate raging around you. Discussion is good, in fact it’s real healthy, but our convictions are what make us who we are. Amidst the craziness of uni life, strong convictions shine through and are respected.
If you’re venturing into university for the first time this year, have a blast! It may seem daunting at times, but good decisions and surrounding yourself with good people will make it the most productive and impacting time of your life – plus, when else can you see The Datsuns rock out on a Monday night?! O-week is rad.
Also, check out these helpful people:
Student Life
Tertiary Student's Christian Fellowship
Student Christian Movement Aotearoa
A Kiwi Girl in Africa: Part 4
by Sarah Anderson
Welcome to the world’s biggest melting pot! Travel plans were almost on schedule (suitcase weights were conveniently ignored by check-in people, whew!!)... More »
ATLAS | Reasons for Voyaging
by Wal Reid
Atlas have a musical pedigree as long as my arm, and I must admit I was enamoured with mega-hit “Crawl”. More »
