Tips for Everyone at Seminary

Dr Keith and Jacob’s mentoring group put together a session at last week’s chapel to share tips on how to do well as a seminary student.

Here’s what was shared:

(1) Continue to spend time with God. This recharges you and keeps you spiritually fresh. Your morning quiet time and short times of reflection throughout the day helps you stay connected with God.

(2) Manage your time well. Plan ahead for homework and pace yourself to finish assignments ahead of time.  Make a calendar of your activities and control your busy-ness. Do a self-evaluation and give yourself a grade after finishing the assignment.

(3) Foster relationships with your classmates. Take the time to do this during break times and mentoring group retreats. Pray for one another and listen to each other’s life stories. It’s even possible to pick up helpful assignment-related information from these conversations!

(4) Strengthen your marriage during seminary. A happy wife during seminary leads to a happy life during and after seminary. Fix a regular time for dates and keep the marriage rich, rather than dormant.

(5) Balance out your attention between studies and family. Bring the family for outings and share with them what you’ve learnt in class. If you have children, spend time with them.

(6) Scripture provides us with relevant wisdom in Proverbs 24:30-34 (NIV):

I went past the field of a sluggard,
past the vineyard of someone who has no sense;
thorns had come up everywhere,
the ground was covered with weeds,
and the stone wall was in ruins.

I applied my heart to what I observed
and learned a lesson from what I saw:
A little sleep, a little slumber,
     a little folding of the hands to rest–
and poverty will come on you like a thief
     and scarcity like an armed man.