by Gabriella, SEM Intern
Ah yes, fall. Us students’ favorite time of year. Right around August/September, we are all starting up school again (or maybe you’re taking a gap year, or you’ve graduated. If so, congrats!). If you’ve had a busy summer like me, then you might feel as if the months flew by way too quickly, and school can’t possibly be starting again so soon. Yet here we are, about to jump into a world of books, lectures, homework, and more! It can seem pretty daunting, I know. However, with the right mindset and God’s Grace, it can be accomplished fairly easily!
I just graduated this past May (2025) and am currently taking a gap year. I was homeschooled all the way through my K-12 years of education. My mom was my main teacher for the majority of the years, but then around 7th/8th grade, I began doing most of my work independently, and by 8th/9th grade I was doing all online classes through Saint Athanasius Academy (SAA). There were a lot of bumps and hiccups throughout the years I was in high school, and it was often hard to find the motivation to sit down and just get it done. I’d often find myself lost in a good book, spending time with my siblings, doing chores, or just sitting around procrastinating! Fall was especially challenging. I had gotten used to a new routine over the summer, and then it all had to change in a few days. I had to get used to attending classes again, keeping up with assignments, making sure to take notes properly, and balancing all that with my spiritual and family lives. It was never fun.
Even though the first few weeks (sometimes months, or maybe the entire year) of school feel draining, stressful, and sometimes lonely, I always felt so rewarded after pushing through and getting into a new rhythm. During the last few years of high school, I learned about and grew close to a few saints who are known for their help to students. Some of my favorites are Saint John of Kronstadt (commemorated December 20th/January 2nd), Saint Sergius of Radonezh (commemorated September 25th/October 8th), and the Three Holy Hierarchs (St. John Chrysostom, St. Basil the Great, and St. Gregory the Theologian [commemorated January 30th/February 12th]). I have icons of St. John of Kronstadt and the Holy Hierarchs by my desk and I would always ask for their intercessions before starting any of my school work or classes.
Along with these saints, there are several prayers for before classes/studying which can be found here (you’ll have to scroll down a little bit, fyi!). These are wonderful ways to incorporate the Faith into your daily lessons and are extremely helpful.
I know it sounds cliche, but another thing that is always helpful is the 30/5 rule. You work for 30 minutes, you take a break for 5. And no, scrolling on your phone or computer does not count as a break. Go outside, walk around, do some squats or stretches, read about the saints of the day, etc. Just get up and away from your work for a few minutes to recharge and come back to it with a clear mind! Especially if you are starting to feel groggy/unmotivated. You can also listen to some music to get your mind out of a fog. The SEM playlists have some great songs!
Along with taking the core classes, I found that taking electives or classes about topics I am really interested in helps me be much more engaged in the topic. If you’re interested in history, take a class on a period you really want to learn more about; if you like books, do a book club; if you’re into theater and acting, find a local theater (preferably a Christian one), or do something online (maybe try writing a play for English class); if you like space, astronomy; etc, etc…Y’all are smart, I think you get the idea!
The point is, if you enjoy something, learning about it will help you to both retain the information better and deepen your appreciation for that topic. During high school I took at least one or two Orthodox Studies classes each year. I took classes about the Old Testament, one about Early African Christianity/Saints, one about the Cappadocian Fathers, and many more. They were all so much fun and I feel like I was truly able to deepen my appreciation for our Faith. All of the classes I listed I took from SAA if anyone wants to check them out!
One last thing to remember in this season of Marian feasts, is the example the Panagia gave us as young adults. As we enter this school year, wherever we are, whatever is happening or going to happen, we need to remember to be meek, humble, and contemplative in all the work we do. Yes, you are going to mess up that essay. Yes, you are going to ask a dumb question in class or answer one way wrong. No, you are not going to make it through the year completely perfectly. In all of these challenges that the school year brings, it is important to remember that Christ is giving us these beautiful opportunities to learn about Him through the subjects we are studying. We don’t need to get mad about the bad grammar on our assignment, we don’t need to get annoyed with our teachers/parents, we don’t need to isolate ourselves to get school done. Will all of these things happen? Yes, they will. Even if you try to avoid getting mad, annoyed, or distant, it is bound to happen. That’s life. And school is a stressful thing that EVERYONE struggles with. What really matters is how we approach it and grow from it. Will we follow Christ and His Mother as examples of our attitudes? Or will we lean toward the Disciples of Jesus on the boat and freak out about the waves of schoolwork around us? It’s up to you, and I wish you all the best as you enter this school year! May God give us all strength.