Shipping off to university often means leaving behind the church you were raised in. Since worship is a cornerstone of faith, it's vital to seek out another spiritual community that will welcome you. Research the various churches on or around campus and find one that suits your values. If possible, meet with the pastor or congregation leader one-on-one to find out more about the church and decide whether it would be a good fit for you. Once you've integrated into a new church community, you can begin attending weekly worship services and strengthening your connection to the Lord. Look into student-led Christian organizations at your school that are accepting new members. This can be a great way to meet like-minded individuals who are serious about their faith. As part of a student group, you'll read and discuss scripture, participate in community outreach events, and be lifted up by the love and support of your brothers and sisters in Christ. The kinship you feel as part of a group can motivate you to become more active in your faith and your local church community. Through your church or student group, you'll have a chance to meet other Christians your age and form meaningful friendships. These friendships will serve as the basis of your social network while you're in school. Together, you can help one another stay the course amidst the chaos and confusion of the world around you. Older students can make great advisers, as they've often experienced the same spiritual hardships that may be troubling you now. Don't waste time on those who try to ridicule or exclude you for your religious choices. Making friends is hard enough without having the foundations of your faith mocked. No matter how hectic things get, make some time each day to sit in quiet contemplation or scan a few passages. Scripture and prayer are your link to Christ. The more time you devote to His word, the stronger that link will grow. Take an occasional break from studying math, science, and literature to go over a few choice verses. Invite your friends to take part in Bible study or group prayer alongside you.

Summary: Find a new home church. Join student groups on campus. Become friends with other students who share your beliefs. Pray and read your Bible.

Instead of using your wallet as the solution, allow there to be other means of help. For example, if your relative is unemployed, let them know about temporary agencies that match people with temporary work, selling items online, or looking through the yellow pages or online forums to get a job. Your money does not have to be the only solution. Say, "Let's look at online listings together so we can find you a job." Say, "I know you're having a hard time finding a job. What are your interests and how can you put those toward more stable employment?" Find ways to assist them in furthering their career or employment. For example, offer to babysit their kids so that they can attend job interviews or work meetings. If they ask for money to pay for food, invite them over for meals at your house. Find ways you can help that don't involve money. This way, you can show that you care and want to help but in a non-financial way. Say, "At the moment I can't help you financially, but I'd love to help you in different ways. If you need help going to interviews, I can watch the kids or give you a ride." If your relative has a problem with alcohol, drugs, gambling, or another addiction, recognize that giving them money may be enabling their addiction. If you suspect that addiction is involved, offer to help and support your loved one in other ways. Offer your support in wanting them to break free from addiction and seek professional help. Support their steps to recovery through the ups and downs. If your relative asks for money, say that you are willing to give money in order to help their recovery. For example, say that you are willing to help them seek treatment or see a counselor. Do not give them the money for treatment directly. Offer to help pay for detox and/or rehab, sending payments directly to the facility.

Summary: Refer them to resources. Offer to help out. Recognize if the money is tied to addiction.

When a decision is hard, it's important to identify the reasons why you made it. A pro and con list is a simple way to do that. This allows you to apply quantitative reasoning to your decision by adding up the pros of each alternative and weighing them against the cons. It's a good idea to make more than one pro and con list, especially if you're struggling with a decision. For example, you may need to choose between 2 different vacation destinations, such as an island getaway or a trip to Paris. You can only choose 1, and either would be amazing. This helps you overcome the conflict of having to make a choice between two or more good options. Look for more positives to the alternative that you are choosing and add them to your list. Let's say that you decided to go to Paris because you found out a friend would be going at the same time. Rewriting your pro and con list to highlight the pros of Paris will help you avoid the conflict of choosing not to go on the island vacation. In this case, you might add that you will get to spend time with your friend to the pros list. This will make that option seem less appealing in your mind, allowing you to avoid regrets about missing out on it. You will be able to see the option you chose as the clear best choice. For example, you might add that the island getaway could result in sunburn, might be ruined by tropical weather, and could get lonely without a friend around. This is called "spreading" your alternatives. In effect, you are making your chosen alternative more appealing than the other option(s), which reduces your desire to question the choice. This can help solidify that thought in yourself. Backup your choice by pointing out the pros behind the choice you made, firmly dismissing the other option(s). For example, you could tell a friend about your decision to go to Paris, highlighting the opportunity to make memories with your friend, finally see a city you've always dreamed of visiting, and avoiding the dangers of a tropical disturbance. Otherwise, you'll reawaken your feelings of cognitive dissonance. It can take time to get used to accepting your decisions without regret, especially if you're an anxious person. However, life is full of hard decisions, and focusing on the positives of what you chose can help. Keep your focus on the actions you're taking rather than ruminating on your decisions. If you do find yourself feeling discomfort or regret, work through the pro and con activity again to remind yourself that the alternative you chose is the right one. There's no point in entertaining the choice you didn't make, as you can't go back in time. Instead, focus on the next decision you have to make.

Summary: Make a pro and con list. Focus on the pros for the alternative you are choosing. Enhance the cons for the alternative you didn't choose. Explain to someone else why you chose the alternative you did. Avoid questioning the decision once it's made.

Raw beet greens have a strong flavor, so they're best paired with other powerful ingredients. Mix with feta, Romano cheese, goat cheese, or anchovies. Make Tahini, strawberry vinaigrette, or another strong or acidic dressing to complement this salad well. Beet greens become more bitter and toughen as they age. When serving raw, it's best to stick with the young greens sold in late spring or early summer. Saute with other aromatic ingredients, then mix it into the soup for the last couple minutes of simmering. This works well in thick soups made from lentils, beans or a cream base. These chips are a little thicker and taste a bit "plantier" than other leaf, green vegetables. But if you've converted to the beet green fans and want them on the go, this is a great recipe: Preheat oven to 350F (175C). Cut off stems, wash and pat dry the leaves in a kitchen towel. Toss leaves with a light coating of olive oil. Add salt and pepper if desired (taste first; beet greens are already salty). Bake on parchment paper-lined pans for 15 minutes, turn, and bake for 10 more minutes.
Summary: Serve raw beet greens in salad. Add sauteed greens to soup. Bake leaves into crisp chips.