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)