Finally, the end of another academic year! I do not know about you, but I am taking a deep breath in relief. I am thankful to God for helping me work hard through the academic year. Each year has its different challenges. At the end of each academic year I like to do a personal examination or a “year in review,” asking myself some questions to know where I stand in my relationship with God, how I have or have not grown as a man, and how I approached the challenges of the academic year. Below are some examples of what I ask myself:
Did I accomplish the goals set for this academic year?
Did I challenge myself to improve my academic habits or was my approach the same?
What was my reaction to spontaneous challenges/assignments during the semester and how did I welcome or dismiss them?
Was I honest with myself acknowledging struggles and issues and, if needed, did I reach out for help?
Was God a secondary thought or did I invite God to be part of my academic year? Likewise, did I invite friends and acquaintances to join me to attend Mass or attend a spiritual conference or lecture?
Did I grow in my spiritual life and as a result deepened my relationship with God?
Was I faithful to praying daily or did I pray only in times of crisis whether personal or because of a world crisis event?
Did I welcome or seek out opportunities to grow in my vocational discernment?
For me, some of my answers to these questions vary from “yes” or “no,” or “still more change needed.” After looking back at this year, I can say I have allowed God to continue to mold me, yet there is still room for improvement. It is necessary and helpful for me to do this examination seeing how God was part of the day, week, month, year. It serves as a reminder for me that God and academics are not separate things, although it may appear that way. He personally called me to a special vocation and my acceptance and participation in that vocational calling is lived out by studying to fulfill such.
At times during the school year, the light at the end of the tunnel may seem distant, especially when taking final exams. Daily inviting God into this struggle, provides Jesus, who is the light, the opportunity to illuminate the path for me to continue running the race to the end of the academic year or semester. At the finish line I want to be able to fulfill the words of Saint Paul in his First Letter to the Corinthians (9:25), saying I had the discipline and endurance to run the race, i.e. the academic/semester year race, to finish winning a crown that is imperishable and not for a crown that perishes. The imperishable crown is one with a growing relationship to be with God in heaven for all eternity. So, is God running with you to the end or are you telling Him to wait at the finish line while you finish on your own? For me, I want him running with me so that He can be with me in the struggles and not waiting for me to do it on my own.
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