Marcel LeJeune shares “10 Things I Wish I Knew My Freshman Year“, a timely post as colleges welcome thousands of new students:
9 – College is not just about getting a job. I am not saying that grades are not important. I am not saying you don’t want to get a good job. I AM saying that college is about learning about the big questions – Who am I? What is life about? What plan does God have for me? etc. If you figure this out, college will be a success.
……..
7 – Sit up front. I am assuming that you are going to every class (which costs about $100 dollars per class you skip). If you sit up front in class you are bound to pay more attention to the prof and get better grades. You are also a more familiar face to the prof when you go ask for help (see #1). Sit up front in church as well.
Read the rest of Marcel’s article.
Simcha Fisher similarly offers “10 Things I Wish I Had Known as a New Wife” (many of which apply to new husbands as well):
3. Pray together every night, even if it’s just a three-pack (an Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be—the go-to evening prayer for tired or lazy Catholics). If your husband doesn’t want to pray, then snuggle up to him in bed and pray silently. The Holy Spirit sometimes appears unable to distinguish between two married people, and may react as if you’re praying together.
………
9. Pick a role model. Find an older woman who appears peaceful and joyful, and either ask her advice, or ask yourself, “What would so-and-so do?” This method has its limits: After all, she is she, and you are you. But as long as you don’t idolize her or sell short your own unique good qualities, there is nothing wrong with some healthy imitation while you’re learning the ropes.