Let Your Light Shine in School
by: Roy Dobbs – Principal of Pike Preparatory Academy & Member of Faith Apostolic Church
“Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father which is in heaven” (Mt 5:16)
Some of the greatest times of a child’s life can take place at school. The activities, friendships, and events provide fond memories, but these memories are even better when they include academic success. A child’s educational experience is a journey for which they must be prepared. As parental figures we must all focus on the big picture and the impact that educational success will have on the lives of our children.
Below are a series of tips and strategies to consider for both parents and students as we teach our children to let their lights shine in school.
1. Realize there are positive & negative influences in all school settings
Parents: Whether your child is entering kindergarten or going off to college, there will be influences in their path. On average, your child spends 6-7 hours of their alert time at school with one or multiple teachers. During this time they are surrounded by an array of people that can impact their lives forever. Teach your children about positive and negative peer influence. Pray that God will send people into our child’s life that serve as positive influences. Remind your children that their associations will either help or hinder their lives.
Students: When selecting friends it is important to seek relationships with people who are in agreement with your spiritual and moral values. In addition, your friends should share similar goals and aspirations as you. If you do not align yourselves with people who want success for your life, you risk falling prey to negative peer influence. Together you will succeed and support each other through the difficulties faced throughout high school. High school should be among the most enjoyable years of your life. If you form healthy friendships, you will enjoy fond memories for a lifetime.
2. Communication is the key
Parents: Convey to your children the importance of communicating about school in the home. You cannot afford to be disconnected from the events and activities that take place during the 6-7 hours that your child is at school. Communicate regularly by calling and emailing your child’s teacher. Make it a point to visit school and the classroom throughout the school year. Attend school functions and definitely plan to attend student-teacher conferences. If you only talk to the teacher or visit the school when there is a problem, then your school involvement and communication is off base. If you ever have a concern with what is going on at school, express it immediately with the appropriate school official in a tactful way. Do not let your displeasure build up because you will most likely overreact in a way that you may later regret.
Students: Communicate with your teachers in order to learn more about your classes and their expectations for your success. Asking questions allows teachers to help you so never be ashamed or too proud to ask for help if you are uncertain about something. If you do not feel comfortable asking questions during class, ask after class. After all, this is your education and your life, and you should not play around with it. Communication shows teachers that you care about your education; not surprisingly, they are more willing to help students who want to help themselves.
3. Develop Great Habits
Parents: Teach your children that the habits they form today will have either a positive or negative effect on their futures.
Students: If you want to become a great student, you must be willing to do what others won’t. You cannot expect to get great results if you don’t develop great habits. You should practice developing certain skills until they become habitual. You need to develop good spiritual habits such as praying and reading your Bible. In school you will need to develop good habits such as studying for tests, remaining organized, managing your time, getting ample sleep, eating a healthy diet, and exercising. What you do during your school breaks and on weekends will also help you get ahead. A great way to strengthen your knowledge is by reading, writing, studying, and developing the other essential skills on the weekends or on your school breaks. If you want to be the best, you will have to work harder than everyone else.
4. Make a Commitment to Excellence
Parents: Teach your children to do their personal best, and when they do, be prepared to accept it. Your kids may not be great at everything, but they will great at something.
Students: Take advantage of all educational opportunities available to you at school and glorify God with your performance. Your peers, teachers, school administrators, and the community will remember you for your legacy of academic achievement. Strive to make the Honor or High Honor Roll, push yourself by taking advanced classes.
In addition to academic excellence, commit to getting involved in extracurricular activities. You owe it to your school to get involved and contribute in other areas. Whether you are playing a sport, playing an instrument at school concerts, participating in a club, it will build character and make your school experience more memorable. Achieving in the classroom and serving as a leader in your school makes you a role model for all to see.
Commit yourself to being a good citizen at school. You cannot learn if you are constantly being put out of class, sent to the office, suspended, or expelled from school. In most cases, the students who misbehave in school are also the ones who fail in school. If you want to be Christ-like, you should focus on being a model citizen in your school. Keep a clean discipline record and strive to be the example that would make God proud.
Our prayer: Heavenly father, I thank you for giving our children the opportunity to receive an education. I pray that you give every parent wisdom, guidance, and patience in every situation involving their child’s education. Our faith, hope, and trust will remain in you, Jesus, and we know that we can do all things through you. Help our kids to connect with the right crowds, protect them from danger, and bless our educators as they strive to make a positive impact on our children. God I pray that you inspire and strengthen our children as they let their lights shine in their schools, in Jesus name, Amen.
By: Roy K. Dobbs
*Roy Dobbs is also the founder of Young Men of Purpose – an organization that mentors troubled teens. You can follow him on Twitter and Facebook:
As humans, we are so prone to forget. God knows this. That’s the purpose of the rainbow, the Passover celebration, the stones in the Jordan River, the Old Testament feasts, and so on. And we know the New Testament sacrament of communion is for the purpose of stirring up our remembrance of the Cross and Blood of Jesus.
Our cultural diversity has also mobilized our church to become a world missions force! A large portion of our annual budget goes to fund missions projects around the world. We are building orphanages in Africa, Haiti, Myanmar and India. We are helping plant churches in Europe, South America, Cuba, Asia and the South Pacific. Our church is truly making a global impact.
