( Listen on Apple Podcasts ) If you’re a parent of a high school student preparing for college, you’ve probably heard a lot about volunteer hours and how they impact college applications. But many families misunderstand what really matters when it comes to service. It’s not just about the number of hours. It’s about who your student is becoming in the process . That’s exactly what I talk about in Chapter 5 of my book, Your Next Big Step: The Complete Manual for Christian Par

Help your teen finish high school strong during senior year. Learn how parents can guide students to maintain strong academics, spiritual discipline, and character before college while avoiding “senior slump.” Discover practical ways to reinforce priorities like faith, friendships, purity, and responsibility so your student launches into college prepared to honor God and succeed.

High school graduation is an exhilarating time. Freedom is arriving. Independence is developing. Opportunity awaits you around every corner. Before you pick your major, fill out applications, and plan your campus tours, there is one question more important than any other: Who are you becoming? (See 2 Peter 3:18) College is a time of formation. The routines you establish, friendships you cultivate, and spiritual disciplines you maintain will mold you far more than your major e

WWW.YOURNEXTBIGSTEP.ORG I don’t think I’m alone when I say that every once in a while, my wife and I find ourselves silently contemplating the same question, “Am I losing my teenager?” They are thinking for themselves. They are making adult decisions. They are preparing to leave the nest. Don’t despair. Your influence isn’t ending, it’s changing. “As you guide a child, so he will be; when he grows up, he will not turn from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) The groundwork you have laid spi