As a recent graduate, I have first hand experience of the fears and hopes that any student leaving home to go to University can face. That’s why I believe as a young Christian attending University, ‘Studentdom’ is an excellent practical guide to what students can expect to encounter on a journey which will inevitably change their lives.
Matt Stuart tackles the hurdles and triumphs of Christian University life effectively and methodically taking a chapter for each of his main topics. In turn, these topics look at many issues faced by students in a chronological manner, which makes this book comprehensive, simple and an easy read. Perhaps, though some readers might find this approach a little too simplistic especially in the first chapter, ‘Applications and making decisions’ where Matt Stuart describes the application process involved in getting to University. I felt that students’ who attend University would already have had such information and more, from their tutors at College and therefore this was perhaps unnecessary advice. On the other hand, Matt’s detailed advice about money in chapter five, ‘Money and debt’ is excellent preparation for the sorts of issues that Christian students will inevitably encounter during their time at University.
In addition to this, there was a lot more information in this book which I believe all Christian students would find both helpful and encouraging. In chapter four, entitled; ‘Halls and houses’ (and similarly chapter eight; ‘Friends and Community’) Matt outlines some of the types of friendship and conflict that could occur during your first year. I found this especially thought provoking and good advice, especially coming from a graduate himself and I think that it would have been beneficial for me before I went to University to have some idea of what lies ahead. I also found the introduction to be especially encouraging outlining the major themes of student life. I particularly found the last point he makes extremely realistic as he talks about how we, as Christians, are to honour God on a personal level by making our own choices as to how we live our lives to glorify and bless Him.
There is also much more of the same practical advice in chapters six, seven, nine and ten on various issues. These vary from how to handle your study and ‘extra-curricular’ activities to what to do when encountering sexual and alcoholic temptations to how to get more involved in the Students Union and some of the benefits of doing so. Much of this advice comes down to common sense from a Biblical point of view, although I believe it is worth reanalysing and reaffirming your own personal beliefs before going to University to make sure that you stick to them when the temptations come along.
In summary, then, through all the topics Matt chose to wrote about, this book could have been a list of do’s and don’ts for University seeming more like a lecture from your parents rather than a book you’d choose to read! However, the feeling I had having finished the book was one of how student life is supposed to be an excitement and adventure, a time when you grow and become more committed to God and your relationship with Him. I would therefore, recommend this book to all young Christians leaving home for the first time to go to University, especially if you’re a bit apprehensive about it. This book may not be the solution to all your problems but it will be a useful guide to how to go about ‘walking the walk’ at University.