A Little Something for Your Backpack: 4 Things to Carry Into the New School Year

From middle school to college, consider this your big-sis back-to-school pep talk.

If you caught me on the Hallelujah Morning Show with Mike Cork & Friends for Glambition Tip Tuesday this morning, you already know we had a WORD. And apparently, I had more word than I had radio time.

I only made it through number 3 before we had to wrap, so I promised I’d bring the rest of the conversation over here. And honestly? I’m glad I did. Consider these my four back-to-school confidence tips for every student heading into a new school year because what you carry within you matters just as much as what you packed in that backpack.

Whether you’re walking into middle school, starting another year of high school, finally a SENIORRRR 🎓, moving onto a college campus for the first time, or heading back to finish what you started, there are a few things I want you to take with you.

Of course- get the outfit together. Get your hair right. Charge the laptop. Pack the backpack. Take the pictures. (Mommas, please don't do the most with those pictures.)

But there are some things you’re going to need this year that don’t fit in the backpack.

So come here for a minute. Big sis has a few things I need you to remember.

1. Walk In Knowing Who You Are.

One of the unique things about a new school year is that some go into it with a plan, some without, but either way you have absolutely no idea who you’ll be when you come out on the other side of it. You’re going to grow. You’re going to meet new people. You may discover something you’re ridiculously good at that you didn’t even know was in you. Your interests may change, your style may change and even some of your goals may change.

Good. You’re supposed to grow.

But hear me: growing into yourself and changing yourself just to belong are two very different things.

You don’t have to walk into a room and immediately start figuring out who you need to be so everybody else will accept you. Walk in as YOU. Psalm 139:14 says you are fearfully and wonderfully made. That means God wasn’t confused when He made you. Your personality, your gifts, your creativity, your way of seeing the world- even some of those little things about yourself you’re still learning to appreciate. There is purpose there.

Go into this year curious about who you’re becoming, but confident in who God already created you to be.

You don’t have to have yourself completely figured out. You’re growing. Just don’t lose yourself while you’re doing it.

2. Give Yourself Permission to Be a Beginner.

Listen. You are going to school because there are things you do not know yet. That’s literally the point.

So please don’t decide you’re “bad” at something just because it doesn’t come easily the first time. You might walk into a class and think, Ohhhh no. What IS this?!  You might try something new and not be great at it. You might get to college and realize managing your own schedule, assignments, laundry, money AND social life is a whole different ministry.

It’s okay. You’re learning.

And not just academically. This year you’re learning how to manage yourself, communicate, ask for help, recover when something doesn’t go as planned, advocate for yourself and become more responsible for the life you’re building. So I want you to add one tiny word to your vocabulary: YET.

“I don’t understand this…yet.”

“I haven’t found my people…yet.”

“I’m not confident doing that…yet.”

“I don’t know what I want to major in…yet.”

“I haven’t figured this out…yet.”

Don’t make permanent conclusions about yourself while you’re still learning.

Read that one again.

You are allowed to be new at something. You’re allowed to ask questions. You’re allowed to need help. And you are absolutely allowed to try again. Give yourself room to become.

3. Choose Your Circle With Purpose.

Now let’s talk about the PEOPLE. 👀

School isn’t just classes and assignments. A huge part of your experience will be shaped by the people you experience it with and there are some incredible people you haven’t even met yet.

Your new best friend could be sitting three seats away. A teacher may recognize something in you that you haven’t seen in yourself yet. A coach, counselor, professor or mentor may introduce you to an opportunity that changes the direction of your life.

So be open. Say hello. Make connections.

But also learn to choose your circle with purpose.

Look for people you can be yourself around.

People who encourage you.

People who clap when something good happens for you.

People who can tell you, “Girl…no.” or “Bro, you know better,” when you need to hear it. People who genuinely want to see you win.

And here’s the part we sometimes forget: be that kind of person too.

If you see somebody standing alone, say hey.

Scoot over and make room.

Give the compliment.

Invite somebody along.

Celebrate your friend’s accomplishment without wondering what it takes away from yours.

Be kind without needing an audience for it.

You never know what somebody else had to push through just to walk through those doors that morning.

Sometimes one good person can change somebody’s entire school experience. You could be that person.

4. Participate in Your Own Life.

Okay. THIS is the one I didn’t get to give y’all on the radio, and baby, I need you to hear me on this one.

Don’t spend this year watching everybody else live while you sit on the sidelines of your own life.

Raise your hand.

Try out for the team.

Audition.

Join the club.

Run for the position.

Apply for the scholarship.

Go to the event.

Take the class.

Talk to the professor.

Introduce yourself.

Submit your work.

Sit somewhere new.

Ask the question.

Try the thing you’ve been secretly thinking, “I wonder if I could…”

GO FIND OUT.

You don’t need to wait until you’re completely confident. That’s one of the biggest misunderstandings about confidence. Confidence isn’t always walking into the room thinking, “Oh, I KNOW I’m going to kill this.” Sometimes confidence is standing there nervous as all get-out saying: “I’ve never done this before…but I’m willing to try.”

And that’s enough.

Courage can come first. Confidence can catch up later.

There are gifts, friendships, experiences, opportunities and versions of YOU that you may never discover if you spend the whole year waiting until you’re sure.

So participate. This is your life too. Take up some space in it.

And Parents…Come Here for a Second. ❤️

This part is for us.

We’re going to be checking grades, homework, schedules and attendance. “Did you turn that assignment in?” “What time is practice?” “Did you email your professor?” And my personal favorite: “Why is there a ZERO right here?” Whew...Parenting. I get it.

But while we’re checking everything our children are carrying, let’s remember to check on the person carrying it.

And sometimes “How was school?” just isn’t going to get us there.

Try asking:

“What made you smile today?” “

What was something interesting that happened?”

Who did you spend time with?”

“What are you looking forward to?”

Anything feel weird or different today?” or simply, “Is there anything you need from me?”

Then give them room to answer. Our babies may be getting taller, driving themselves to school, living in dorms and insisting they’re grown, but they still need somewhere safe to land.

Let’s make sure home and us can be that.

Now Students…One More Thing Before You Go.

You don’t know everything this school year is going to bring. That's Good!

There’s something beautiful about that. There are laughs you haven’t laughed yet. Friends you haven’t met yet. Things you haven’t learned yet. Memories you haven’t made yet. Prayers God hasn’t answered yet. And parts of yourself you haven’t discovered yet.

So before you walk through those doors, carry this with you:

I am ready to grow.

I am allowed to learn.

I don’t have to have everything figured out.

I can choose good people—and I can BE good to people.

I am capable of more than I know.

And wherever I go, God goes with me.

This school year isn’t just something you have to get through. It’s a year of your life that you get to experience. So experience it.

Learn. Grow. Laugh. Make the memories. Take the pictures. Give yourself grace and give other people some too. Try some things. Pray. And when the opportunity comes, participate in your own life. There is more inside of you than you’ve had the opportunity to discover yet.

Go find out. ❤️

Have an AMAZING school year, babies. I’m rooting for you.

— Mikaya Dionne

Beauty, Image & Confidence Expert

Creator of Glambition Tip Tuesday

#GetYourGlambitionUp. ✨