Alex Chediak
Tyndale House Publishers, 2011, 368 pp., $14.99
It’s no secret that the college years are a time when great sifting happens to emerging adults. Many students shake off the expectations they’ve grown up with and eventually abandon their faith, while others use the intellectual and social hurdles to strengthen an overall spiritual life. This phenomenal resource equips readers to enter that journey by proactively trusting God and digging deeper into His practical wisdom for all they’re about to face.
Each of the 10 chapters of Thriving at College unpacks a common mistake and a key principle, such as “Wasting Opportunities” versus “Use Your Downtime Wisely.” Four themes are intelligently explored, including “general issues” (maintaining the Christian faith, adjusting to the logistical realities of college, coming from high school), “relationship issues” (with friends, professors, girl/boyfriends and parents), “character issues” (developing integrity, responsibility, reliability and a healthy work/recreation balance) and “academic issues” (doing well in classes while not being neurotic about grades, selecting a major, possibly changing majors, finding internships, and wisely using summer and winter breaks). Lots of factoids and real-life illustrations add color to the propositions.
This book is explicitly Christian, as well as practical to non-Christians. It innovatively could inform a youth group class or family discussion on the themes, or be an invaluable gift to high school graduates or upcoming seniors. The insider tone coupled with biblical perspective will inspire readers to pursue a calling that is higher than they ever thought possible.
