Whether you're about to enter the hallways of your local high school or middle school, or maybe you're a graduate like me and are preparing for your next steps in college, the school season is approaching, and approaching quickly! We all need some encouraging reminders during this transition from a lazy (or maybe not-so-lazy) summer to another year of study. As you begin school in the coming weeks, here are five lessons I learned that you should remember:

Work your hardest.

"Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters..." Colossians 3:23

This may sound cliché, but perform your best. Give it your all. From your studies to sports to being the president of that club to whatever you do, don't give less than your best. I believe dedication and diligence are extremely important traits to have, and they will lead to success! Work at it as if you're working for the Lord, seeking to please Him and knowing that what you do truly will matter. But keep in mind you probably won't be successful at everything. You're there to learn! So work your hardest, but when failure comes, its okay. You did your best, and you strove for nothing less than success. None of us are perfect. Not to mention that working yourself until you're sick and beating yourself up when you fail is not going to lead you in the right direction.

Set realistic goals.

Part of working hard and dedicating yourself to whatever it is you are working at is planning efficiently. Make goals, and work hard to attain them. But one thing I've learned in my life as well as what I've seen in the lives of others is that when you set a goal so high and so hard, it will be difficult to reach. No, that doesn't mean that you won't reach it. But if you don't, it's going to be hard. When you have a list of goals that are difficult to reach, and you barely achieve any of them, it will be easy to beat yourself up and get discouraged. Set goals that are realistic. Don't work for a 100% in a class if you've never made above an 85. Instead, maybe strive for a 90, a high B, or even an A in general. And when you reach above expectation, you'll not only be encouraged, but you'll be motivated to create and achieve even higher goals.

Give it your all, but don't let it define you.

Another thing about working your hardest: don't let whatever "it" is, make you who you are. Whether you work hard in academics, a certain sport, a hobby or club, or even in the way you look or in having the amount of stuff you own, remember that while these accomplishments are great, they aren't what define you. They aren't your identity. Because when you mess up, this identity is likely to fade. You begin to chase after perfectionism in whatever "it" is and your identity quickly transforms to "failure" when you no longer succeed.

But know this: You are NOT defined by the grades you make or the intelligence you possess. You are NOT defined by how fast you run or how many touchdowns you make. You are NOT defined by how many awards you win in music. You are NOT defined by the clothes you wear, the amount of makeup you use, or the brand of shoes you buy. You are NOT defined by the amount of money you make, the amount of expensive items you own, or whether you have the latest IPhone. You are NOT even defined by your past or the sins you carry or once carried.

No, you are defined as a loved and cared-for child of God!

Don't let fear stop you from getting involved, but realize it's okay to say no when needed.

So, get involved! Join clubs and meet new people. Don't let fear stop you from joining an organization or trying out for that sport you love. Again, failure is okay. But if you don't try, you'll never know what could happen! Make the most of opportunities, but realize it's okay to also say no. Keep first things first. If your schedule is already overbooked, don't add on something else, because it will be stressful and not-so-fun anymore when you have to do more than time allows. Keep your education a top priority, but at the same time, set fear aside and get involved, because you never know who you may end up meeting or how much fun you will have until you do.

Most of all, keep God first in everything!

"But seek first His kingdom and His righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well." Matthew 6:33

This is so important. This verse stuck with me my entire senior year that it even became my senior quote in the yearbook. When you put God first, everything will fall into place. It was my experience, and I believe it with all certainty. Let Him be the Lord of your life. Live for Him, and spend time with Him. Walk with the One who knows your life, your future, and who knows you even better than you know yourself. It might mean setting aside 20 minutes before you begin your homework and studying to spend time with Him. It might mean giving your tests, your work, your sports, whatever you do, to Him on a daily basis. That's exactly what I did just about every day of my senior year. And He provided. With the grades, the peace, everything I needed!

But again, your school year may not always be perfect. Failure is sure to show up and seek to knock us down. Fears may come and our focus may shift. But when you keep the Lord first in everything, things will fall into place. It's a promise. And it's the truth!