Noble Plans

I’m excited to welcome author and friend, Dr. Katherine Pasour, to talk about her new book: Stay the Course – A Devotional Handbook to Survive and Thrive in Your First Year of College. Katherine has graciously included an excerpt from the book and will provide a free copy to a lucky reader. This is a wonderful gift for a high school graduate in your life. It’s a timeless gift. I plan to give one of these to each of my grandchildren as they reach graduation age.

Read on to see how to qualify for the giveaway!

Now, here’s Katherine.

Noble Plans

This past weekend at a book signing, I met the most delightful young man. His mother brought him to the event to purchase a copy of Stay the Course: A Devotional Handbook to Survive and Thrive in Your First Year of College (and Beyond). We enjoyed an afternoon of snacks, conversation, and books! But this encounter was the highlight of the day.

What made this interaction so amazing? The young man had impeccable manners, answering with patience each time we asked him his plan for the future—“Where are you going to college? What’s your major? What’s your chosen career path?” After hearing these same questions a dozen times, I wouldn’t have been surprised if this kind young man had run from the room—but no, he smiled and engaged with all of us, making eye contact and conversation. He thanked us for the book, our snacks, and our good wishes.

This college bound student is entering a prestigious university with plans to pursue a biology degree as a stepping stone to a medical degree.

His plans are noble.

We all have noble plans, don’t we, even those of us beyond college age? To become independent, seek a career, care for our families, work hard at our jobs, serve others, and hope our lives can make a difference for others.

This fine young man gives us hope for the future.

Our high school graduates have noble plans. Soon they will embark on a new journey. Below is an excerpt from Stay the Course, a devotional handbook designed to provide practical advice, motivation, encouragement, and tips to adapt, survive, and thrive in college. (Some of these recommendations may still apply to those of past college age.)

Your Plans are Noble

But, the noble make noble plans, and by noble deeds they stand. Isaiah 32:8

You’ve graduated high school, your plan is to complete college, and prepare for a career.

Your plans are noble. Noble deeds will be accomplished.

But, your plan will need diligent and consistent effort to reach fulfillment. You’ll need a combination of perseverance, flexibility, and determination to succeed in college.

Perseverance is steady and continued action, usually over a long period of time, especially through difficulties and setbacks.¹ There will be difficulties and setbacks on your journey through college, but you will stay steady on the path as part of your noble plan.

Flexibility is the ability to adapt to new situations. Being flexible also assures that you can bend (be stretched) without breaking. You will be faced with many new and stressful situations. Being flexible (without being persuaded into activities which block your goal) allows you to learn and adapt, while staying on your pathway.

Determination is firmness of purpose, a resolution to succeed. Again, this trait is needed to help you through the trials and struggles you will encounter.  These problems aren’t impossible roadblocks, but challenges for you to surmount.

Being stubborn is sometimes considered unreasonably determined. But, when you falter in perseverance and determination, sometimes stubbornness gets you over that last bit of the challenge.

Prayer: Father, I know I will face challenges on my college journey. I pray that you will guide me to have a noble plan and that in service to you, I will achieve noble deeds. I already know I have a dose of stubbornness, but I pray you will grant me perseverance, flexibility, and determination to navigate my pathway through college.

I hope you will join me in praying for our high school graduates. It’s a tough world out there.

¹Definitions of perseverance, flexibility, and determination are taken from Encarta World English Dictionary (1999).

Giveaway! To qualify to win a copy of this much-needed resource, simply drop a comment in the section below related in any way to the transition from high school graduate to college freshman. One name will be drawn to receive a copy of Katherine’s book shipped to you directly from Amazon. But hurry! The contest ends on Tuesday at 10:00 p.m.

I need to express thanks to my readers. I’m grateful for your loyalty and support. I love getting your emails, prayer requests, and feedback. Keep ’em coming!

Immersed in His Love, Candyce

Connect with our guest today at KatherinePasour.com

Dr. Katherine Pasour is a retired college professor, an author, and a speaker. During more than four decades of teaching, greater than half at the college level, Katherine has taught and mentored thousands of students. Katherine has degrees in health and physical education and religion, and a PhD in education. She has taught health and physical education to children, wellness to young adults, general education courses, and research classes for honors students, and she’s prepared students to be teachers. An outdoor girl at heart, Katherine enjoys her farm animals, gardening, and hiking. Although pulling weeds or spreading mulch in her flowers aren’t her favorite hobbies, she finds these outdoor tasks are great stress relievers, especially in the spring when the fruits of her labor display their glorious blossoms.