Every August I invite the recent high school grads for breakfast. It’s a tradition I’ve done the last four years as a little send off. We sit down, order a nice breakfast, share stories and I give them a little bit of wisdom. It’s a tradition I look forward to and sad when it ends.
Courtesy of Fahim Fadz/Creative Commons License
It’s hard to see your seniors move onto that next chapter of life. You’ve spent the last 4 years presenting them with opportunities and engaging them in relationships you hope have shaped their relationship with Christ. Now, it’s time to let them go into the world and begin that next chapter. While all the work is done there are a few steps you can take to send them off ready. Your last few steps as their youth minister should be:
Sharing Your Story: Send them off with a story that ends well, your story. The majority of your students are nervous about this next step. While they’ve probably received a lot of advice your story still matters. It matters because they trust you, your wisdom and guidance.
Letting Them Ask Questions: They have more questions than you can imagine; however, not everyone has given them the permission to ask. Allow them to barrage you with questions so that they can get their worries off of their chest. Allow them to ask questions so they are reminded that you care. Allow them to ask questions so you know how to send them off into the next part of the journey.
Reminding Them That They Are Always Connected: Some of your students might think the end of high school is the end of the relationship they have with the local church. Remind them that they are still a part of the community. Let them know you’ll always be their youth minister. While you might not mentor them in the same capacity, it’s important to keep the communication waves open.
No one is ever done growing in their faith. Just because you send your teens off to college doesn’t mean you have to say goodbye forever. Let them know you still love them, and pray for them as they continue on. Send them off knowing that they are not alone and help them always feel connected.
What’s the best piece of advice you give a student leaving for college?