HOLY HOMEWORK

Ten Commandments for the College Campus

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Heading off to the university this fall? Pope Francis recommends that we carry a pocket bible along with our backpack of textbooks. Here are 10 commandments that we can easily fit into our portable scriptures and our student life.

 

1.     Thou shalt study.  Why do we go to college? The primary purpose for going to college is to receive a good education. Therefore we should determine from our very first semester that “hitting the books” will be our principal occupation for the next four years.  Even if we have to work a part-time or full-time job to pay for tuition, our first obligation and most important “employment” is to study.

2.     Thou shalt sleep and eat wisely.  Yes, on a rare occasion (once in 4 years) we might have to “pull an all-nighter” in order to submit a paper on time. But the key word here is “rare.” Otherwise we will lose more than we gain by depriving ourselves of a good night’s rest. And speaking of “gaining,” we also need to avoid the “freshman 15”—adding fifteen unhealthy pounds to our frame during our first year away from home.  Eating junk food is a huge temptation because: (1) it is our own choice—there are no parents monitoring our nutritional habits or cooking for us, (2) it is convenient—there’s a vending machine of sugary snacks in every building on campus, including the library, (3) it is quick—there’s no preparation time needed to drop a Pop-Tart into a toaster.

3.     Thou shalt party hardly.  Chatting while watching a 90-minute movie with friends can be a great way to relax. But drinking until 4 in the morning smacks more of foolishness than freedom. We should certainly celebrate our birthday. But we must also remember that our birthday comes once a year, not every week.

4.     Thou shalt remember the family.  Our folks are genuinely interested in how we’re doing in school because they really care about our happiness and our future. We should never forget this and show our appreciation by not taking them for granted. If we only remember we have a home when we need money, food and clean laundry, we are dishonoring ourselves and hurting the people who love us the most.

5.     Thou shalt curtail the drama.  Auditioning for a part in a college musical can be an exciting and productive experience, even if we don’t capture the lead role. But getting caught up in another student’s personal problems will only entangle us in a melodramatic disaster. Yes, we should be a friend. Yes, we should listen attentively. Yes, we should be empathetic. However, when a fellow collegian’s difficulties are “over the top,” a true friend will make a referral. Every campus has access to mental health services, and these are usually free of charge. If the life of a classmate is becoming a spectacle, we should give them the name and phone number of a professional, promise to pray for them and then exit, stage right.

6.     Thou shalt avoid compulsive behaviors.  Addictions, like all temptations, surround and entice us. We need to be honest with ourselves rather than selling our integrity to the highest bidder. Gambling, drugs, social media and sex are available 24/7. On the surface each of these may appear to be a bridge to success. But down deep they can become prison walls that isolate us from any hope of achievement. In the end we must admit that too much of anything is never really a good thing.

7.     Thou shalt plan ahead.  Procrastination is one of the biggest college-life disasters. It is also completely avoidable! Routine is not really boring if it provides us with a series of positive habits. We can set up a daily schedule and decide to stick with it. If we include an appropriate amount of time for class, study, exercise, work and prayer, there will be plenty of hours left over for relaxation and fun.

8.     Thou shalt uphold Christian principles.  Sometimes, in an effort to be accepted and to belong, we may be tempted to compromise our values. We all have a craving to be liked and a desire to be part of the “in” crowd. But when the cost of following the pack means forfeiting our Catholic ethics, then membership in such a group probably will not nourish the morality that we treasure.

9.     Thou shalt profess the faith.  Commitment to attending Sunday services is fairly easy when we live at home. But going to Mass on campus does not necessarily mean losing an extra hour of sleep. In fact most universities deliberately cater to student life by offering liturgy at a time that meshes with our academic schedule.

10.  Thou shalt impress the right people.  We all want to appear intelligent and consistent.  The old adage that a first impression is a lasting impression is certainly true. So along with professors and classmates, let’s not forget to make a good impression on God too.  How can we do this? By observing the original Ten Commandments, of course.

 

FOR HOLY HOMEWORK:

For current and future college students:  make a copy of the commandments above and post them on the fridge.  For the rest of us:  during the month of September, offer a daily prayer for all our 18-21 year olds who are pursuing a higher education.

 

Comments can be sent to: FatherBobPagliari@Yahoo.com