Practical Advice and Encouragement from a Former CHESS Student: Michael Brokate

About Me: 

Hi, I’m Michael!  I attended CHESS starting in 2015 until my graduation with the group in 2018. My favorite class would likely be Mock Trial with Mr. Jenkins or Anatomy and Physiology with Mrs. Rivera.  I now attend Regent University in Virginia Beach pursuing a Bachelor’s in Biophysical Sciences.  I plan to use this degree to attend Eastern Virginia Medical School for their Physician Assistant’s graduate program with a specialty in Emergency Medicine. In addition to my academics, I am a student housing Resident Assistant, a high school Small Group Leader at my church, and a volunteer with Virginia Beach Emergency Medical Services. 

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My Advice to Homeschoolers: 

I was blessed to have the advice and support of numerous teachers, friends, and my family throughout high school and into college.  Armed with their words of wisdom and my high school diploma, it has been an adventure navigating college and preparing for a career.  From being amid college and “adulting,” I have been potentially bettered and definitely bruised, and I would like share some of the lessons I’ve learned. 

You will hear this all the time, but time management is among the most essential skills.  Mastery of it now will well prepare you for the rest of high school, college, and the workplace. It allows you to shift out of the panic and stress of just barely getting assignments in on time to the unbelievably freeing sensation of working ahead.  Some personal suggestions: 

• The best way to manage your time is to plan it, realistically.  It’s tempting to cram math into a quick and easy 30-minute slot on a planner, until you realize the first half of the problems have already pushed you fifteen minutes into overtime. 
• Recognize the unique attributes of your schedule.  The two hours in study hall with friends will be less productive than two hours at home or the library.  Wait to schedule that hard or intense assignment for when you know you can give it the focus and dedication it deserves. 
• Always break up a large paper or assignment into several portions and start it at least a week before the due date. A six-hour session will only burn you out. Always do small assignments in one sitting, a focused hour will yield greater productivity than three 20-minute sessions. 

With the time saved you have saved, you are empowered to begin focusing on your life outside of school.  Use this opportunity to find your God-given passions and act on them with purpose.  Consider Luke 12:48 which says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” As homeschoolers, we have been empowered with time and opportunities that others often are not. Use that time wisely to complete your responsibilities and to serve God and the world around us. 

Consider Luke 12:48 which says, “To whom much is given, much is required.” As homeschoolers, we have been empowered with time and opportunities that others often are not.

As you progress through your academic career, you are going to encounter some difficult classes.  By learning how you learn, you will know how to approach these difficult classes. Take some time to research the different types of learning (visual, auditory, kinesthetic, and reading/writing) and see which ones match you the most. Recognize also that you may learn different subjects better in different or combinations of styles.  Some personal examples: 

• I talk out my papers when I am forming a rough outline. I might pretend I am explaining the concept to a friend or am in front of a jury and am trying to prove a point.  I have found many phrases and points for my papers that I wouldn’t have found otherwise by talking it out.  
• For hard sciences and mathematics that require memorization, I write notes in my own words. This forces me to ensure that I fully understand the material.
• Teaching the material to classmates and having them teach to you as well is extremely effective.  This forces you to become a mini-expert on your subject and allows you to hear the concepts in new words.  

This process makes classes easier and teaches you how to learn and practice the strengths God has given you. Over time other hardships will occur, so learning not just what strengths you were given but how to use them will be an invaluable tool for the rest of your life.  

Over time other hardships will occur, so learning not just what strengths you were given but how to use them will be an invaluable tool for the rest of your life.  

As you find more time to pursue your purpose and hone your strengths, opportunities will arise.  Use wisdom and discretion, but as a rule find these opportunities and run with them.  Take your first “courses” in life’s school of hard knocks now while you still have your family, friends, and home church to fall back to for support and advice.  Look for:

• Jobs in a field you’re interested in.  Even if you just work as a front desk secretary, you get exposed to professionals and the day-to-day experiences of that field. 
• Service trips to other states and countries. Not only do you get exposed to the world outside your community, you often learn important basic life skills from simple things such as how to navigate an airport up to the basics of house building. 
• Clubs and organizations that are in line with your aspirations.  One of the most formative aspects of my life was joining an organization, the Civil Air Patrol, that not only taught me the basics of leadership, connected me with great friends and mentors, but also showed me my passion for medicine and has helped set me on the path I am on now.

The lessons, memories, and experiences you garner from every opportunity you pursue will grow and develop you for the better.  Jeremiah 29:11 reminds us that God has “…plans to prosper (us) and not to harm (us), plans to give (us) hope and a future.” While our prosperity might be a painful lesson or difficult trial, provided we act with the aforementioned wisdom and discretion, we can take confidence that seemingly good or bad, “…we know that for those who love God all things work together for good, for those who are called according to his purpose,” (Romans 8:28).  Act in boldness and pursue the opportunities that God has and will place before you to grow. 

Whether you just started classes at CHESS, or finished your last set this year, I hope these words can offer a little bit of advice and encouragement.  Even now, I continue to learn and develop in all these areas, and the learning never stops. As we all face the coming days that are filled with uncertainty, use this time well, discover the strengths God has gifted you with, and pursue the opportunities He provides to be the salt and light to change the world.