1. To prepare older Brigaders who may have to move away from
home to study or work.
2. To show girls that God will be with us wherever we are.
Aim:
Consider and discuss what is involved in
1. Accommodation
Bedsit or flat
Use of space
New from old - second-hand items
Sharing flats - costs
Problems/advantages of sharing
Importance of Lease, Rent Book
2. Economy meals
Nutrition - value for money shopping
3. Personal relationships Reasons for moving away from home
Sharing the work load
Entertaining friends
Neighbours
4. Finance
Necessities/luxuries
Planning to meet recurring expenses –
rent, food, telephone
Planning for extras -
outings, hobbies/interests, holidays, gifts
Introduction
Discussion
Q
Why might a person move away from Home?
to study at college / university
to work
Q
Where might they move to?
a town or city within their own country
a town/city across the water eg Scotland, England, Wales or even further
afield
Q
How long?
on a weekly basis coming home at the weekend e.g. Londonderry - Belfast Londonderry.
for a semester at a time e.g. September-Christmas-Easter-June.
on a placement - therefore any time up to 12 months.
on a permanent basis e.g. for a job on the mainland.
When we are at school, we are somewhat ‘protected’ from the outside
world. Although we hate being referred to as children, that is what we
are, with our parents or guardians making decisions for us (maybe not
always the right ones!)
Suddenly, we are faced with choosing subjects for exams, even having to do Maths
and French - the two subjects we hate most perhaps, as well as others we feel we
aren’t very good at.
Next - we have to sit the exams after all those hours of studying. Eventually they
are over. Finally we can start to relax for a while .... until the results come out.
Then, more questions to be answered ............
A levels? GNVQ’s?
Work? University?
DECISIONS, DECISIONS, DECISIONS!!
With so many options it is often very hard to know what to do, or
where to go next. if only someone would make that decision for us - or
just tell us what is best. Well, help is at hand.
Exercise
In pairs, look up the following references and discuss what you feel they are
expressing.
James 1 v 5-8
Psalm 32 v 8
Proverbs 3 v 5 & 6
Proverbs 16 v 3 & 9
Discussion
Q
What things do we need to consider when we move away from home?
Example: - Accommodation
Below are a list of options related to accommodation
renting a bedsit
renting a flat
renting a house
living with a host family
University halls of residence.
Exercise
Accommodation type
Bedsit
Advantages
Own personal space
Flat
House
Disadvantages
May be expensive
Opportunity to be
independent
Family home
Halls of residence
Less freedom
Good way to meet
other people at
University
In the table above, note one advantage and one disadvantage for
each type of accommodation (examples are given)
Case studies
Read the following case studies and them match each person to the
accommodation best suited to their personalities.
Jane
a very independent girl who mixes well with all people
and is very outgoing.
Sarah
enjoys her own space and personal freedom.
Julie
loves being at home with her family and is worried about
going to university as she has never been away from home
before
Samantha
is a quiet person and finds it hard to make new friends.
Amy
loves meeting new people but equally enjoys her own freedom to do
what she wants.
eg
Jane Sarah Julie Samantha Amy -
flat
bedsit
Family home
Halls of residence
House
Discuss the following scenario:
You have just moved into your room at the university’s halls of residence. You
have arranged to meet another girl from your old school who is also at the same
university. As you walk past one of the rooms in your corridor you hear someone
crying. Looking through the opened door - you see a girl curled up on
her bed sobbing what do you do?
Here are some options you may consider:
Ignoring the girl and going on to meet your friend.
Telling one of the other girls in your flat and leaving it to them to investigate.
Knocking on the door and asking the girl if she is alright
Moving on as it is none of your business, maybe it is a personal problem and you
don’t want to be seen as nosy.
Imagine you are the girl who is crying. You are miles away from home, away from
family and friends and do not know anyone at the university.
Q
What reaction would you hope someone would take
if they found you in this state?
University or a new career in a different place is a very exciting
adventure, yet without the support of family and friends it can
seem very daunting, frightening and particularly lonely if you are
miles away from home.
However, look up the following references in God’s word and find out
how we can be reassured of His friendship.
•
•
•
•
•
•
Hebrews 13 v 5
Deuteronomy 4 v 31
Deuteronomy 31 v 6
Isaiah 41 v 10
Romans 8 v 35-39
Joshua 1 v 9 *
Poem –
‘Footprints’ –
read aloud to girls.
EXERCISE
Girls could write out this poem using calligraphy or design their own picture/frame
to accompany it. (This could incorporate the educational part of the Brigaders
badge work).
Alternative exercise
Girls could write their own poem, expressing their feelings when they were lonely
and what helped them to overcome this emotional fear.
A key point to also get across is Ralph Waldo Emerson’s quote:
‘The only way to have a friend is to be one’.
Making new friends
Most universities and colleges have a students union that hosts many clubs and
societies. An introduction to each of these will be provided at fresher week on
the first week of the first semester.
Clubs may include some of the following:
Christian Union, Drama, Football, Orienteering,
Hockey, Duke of Edinburgh’s Award.
These social clubs are an ideal way to meet new people who share similar interests.
They also offer an opportunity to take a break from studying!
UCCF is a Christian organisation linked to Christian Unions all over
the UK. You can contact them before you go to University and
they will put you in touch with your CU. You can find their website
at www.uccf.org.uk
As members of the Girls’ Brigade it may be hard to stand up for what we
believe in and actually tell others about Jesus. We may even feel so
intimidated or so embarrassed (even though we shouldn’t). We might even
deny we know Him - just like Peter who denied Jesus three times. However,
Peter went on to become one of the greatest leaders in the early Christian Church
and is still referred to as one of Jesus’ closest friends.
It is very easy to get caught up in the wrong company, but as it says in 1
Corinthians 15 v 33, ‘bad company corrupts good character’. Therefore how can
we avoid being misled?
One of the best stories in the Bible that offers advice to us if we face this type
of problem is that of Daniel and his friends - their story is found in Daniel
chapters 1-6.
Behind the scenes: (reference - Youth Bible)
One of the beautiful themes of this book is the emphasis on separation to God,
with Daniel as the ultimate example. From their decision not to eat the King’s
food to the refusal to bow to the image of the King, Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach
and Abednego displayed such an uncompromising spirit that spectacular
opportunities were opened for God to display His power on their behalf. Their
courageous commitment presents a timeless challenge to believers not to
compromise their testimony of Jesus even though it may mean a fiery furnace
testing, the Lord’s protection and deliverance will be there.
Character study of Daniel and his three
friends from Daniel 1-6.
Finance
Question - What do we need money for?
Discuss to find answers
rent - monthly? weekly?
bills - electric / gas / telephone
travel to and from home via car / bus / train / boat / plane?
food - economy meals
extras - socialising, clothes, emergency money.
Question -
How much is set aside for each of these?
Question -
Where does this money come from?
Part time work
Student loan arrange for someone to come in and speak to
the girls about these advantages /
disadvantages.
EXERCISE
Plan a weeks menu for a student considering
☺ low cost
☺ time
☺ value for money (little waste)