As I sit in the Houston airport waiting for my connection flight to Los Angeles, I find myself thinking of all the things that I am eagerly anticipating about the new semester. As a returning junior, I’ve already spent two years in college and know that most of what there is to expect about the start of the school year. That being said, it still never seems to go quite as I imagine it; or rather, it never seems to go quite as I plan it. Uncertainty can be a daunting feeling, especially for those moving to a new place and leaving family behind to go to school. I remember experiencing waves of it my freshman year. While uncertainty cannot be eliminated (and honestly it shouldn’t be; it’s a part of the human experience, after all), it can be managed and faced with the help of some advice. The following are the five things that, in my opinion, every incoming bible college student should know.

1. The people you meet during week one might not stay your friends in the long term. This is okay. Many bible colleges utilize orientation programs that place incoming students into groups based on their majors/interests for the first week of the school year, and these programs can be fantastic, but know that you are not being forced to become friends with the people in your group. If natural friendships develop, great, but if they don’t, don’t feel like a social failure because you didn’t meet your best friend in week one.
2. Ring by Spring is not a thing. You are going to hear a ridiculous amount of half-joking statements about people coming to bible college on some sort of “spouse-search” and how your college has a reputation of being a place where people go to get married. In the case of some schools (mine especially) this used to be true. In a different time when the grounds of the school were roamed by gen-xers and our parents permed their hair, bible college was the place you went to get married. Nowadays, many people are waiting longer to get married, and many bible college marriages fail. This is not to say that it won’t happen for you and you won’t find yourself stepping into a wonderful marriage partially as a result of bible college, but don’t make marriage an expectation of your time at college.
3. Date casually, like a normal human being. Only in an article about bible college would this point follow after the point about marriage, but then again, bible college is also one of the only places that needs this to be an article point in the first place. Casual dating is NOT sinful. I know many of you have likely sat through a million youth group purity sermons (just guard her heart bro) and heard the word “pursue” used in the weirdest context ever, but please, for the love of all of our sanity just casually go out with people like our parents did. Guys: asking girls out is not a marriage proposal and should not carry the weight of eternal questions behind it. Girls: guys asking you out is not a marriage proposal and is one of the hardest things for them to do. Go out with him once if he isn’t a weirdo.
4. Keep an open mind. You are going to come into contact with many new people, ideas, and experiences, many of which will challenge some of your assumptions and beliefs. At bible college this is generally not intended to destroy your worldview, but rather to strengthen, refine, and mold it further into what is hopefully a more biblical one. I will always remember sitting in an Old Testament class freshman year and listening to the professor start the lecture by saying, “Don’t stone me as a heretic, but I believe the earth is millions of years old.” While this is not a controversial view in mainstream culture (or even in the broader Christian culture in the world), it is a very controversial statement among many evangelicals in the U.S. You are likely to hear some statements from your professors that go against or at least question some of the things you have been taught in the churches you were raised in. While no one is going to force you to believe them, it is important to consider the views of the very learned men and women you are paying tuition to study under.
5. You will be just fine. Amidst all the craziness of moving, classes, friends, relationships, projects, and school events, it is important to remember that you are going to be just fine. Feeling like you don’t have it all together is perfectly normal and an age-old part of the college experience. If you change your major, there’s still time. If you get a C, it won’t torpedo your GPA. If you break up with your girlfriend, it doesn’t mean you won’t find love. You will be just fine. You are at bible college because you want to serve and honor the God who “makes all things work together for good” (Romans 8:28). That promise isn’t just an empty platitude. We might not always feel like it’s true, but part of the faith that we profess is casting our cares upon a God who works in mysterious ways (Side note: If you got that reference, U2 music is also a great way remind yourself that you’re going to be fine).

As I sit here in the Houston airport and the clock ticks toward my time to board the plane, I’m excited for all that this year will bring. I’m excited to see friends again, excited for new faces, excited for all that God has in store. Maybe if you read this, you’ll do so because you are preparing to go off to college at a school like mine. Maybe you are going to school with me (If this is the case, please say hi! I’ll be the tall one, probably by the food). I hope that my advice can be helpful to you and that your school year will truly be one to remember. You are about to take an important step forward into your own story, and you know what? You are going to be just fine.