Quick reality check, as of the date of publication it has been 89 days since we wrapped up Steubenville Week 1 or 82 days since Steubenville Week 2. Regardless of which weekend you attended, both conferences wrapped up with a speaker presenting a challenge. You can go back and listen firsthand to Kyle Heimann from Week 1 or Paul J. Kim from Week 2. Both men led us through a reflection on The Transfiguration from Mark’s gospel. Here we see Jesus with Peter, James and John up on a mountain and following the transfiguration, when Jesus reveals more fully his divinity, the disciples wanted to set up camp and stay put in that amazing moment. However, the disciples had to descend the mountain.

It’s the most wonderful* time of the year! The leaves are turning colors, the air feels crisp, and everyone is freaking out about Homecoming. There’s so much to do!  The football games, pep rallies, and voting for court (so many decisions!) can just weigh on you during this season. Wait, we forgot the most important part: The Homecoming DANCE. (JK. That was just for dramatic effect.)

*stressful

Summer is over. School is back in session. Games, practices, and rehearsals are in full swing. Praise God that we have these opportunities before us but all of these changes can mean life is pretty crazy.

Do you feel a little overwhelmed? Wish you could go back to summer? Sleep in and spend countless hours with friends?

While we can’t turn back the clock, we can relive a highlight of the summer! Here are four suggestions to bring back the Steubenville experience and help others to do the same.

3,859 participants.

100 volunteers.

60 priests celebrating Mass and hearing confessions.

2,688 confessions heard.

God has incredible plans for each and every one of us, and it is our job to discern what those plans entail.

Matt Maher says it best, in a song that we sang early this morning:

“This is the first day of the rest of your life. ‘Cause even in the dark you can still see the light, it’s gonna be all right.”