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This is a guest post written by my good buddy Caleb Botta (pictured left… the “Big 3” Caleb’s).  He graduated from UGA last May and has begun Medical School at The Medical College of Georgia here at the Athens campus.  Read his blog here!  You can also hear him on Kickin’ It with Caleb as well as watch his RUF Senior Night speech here. 

My name is Caleb Botta, and I am a member of the University of Georgia Class of 2015. As I think back on my college career, one overarching principle rises to the surface:

My friends have determined the Quality and Direction of my life.

My friends have determined the quality of how good life has been, and they have determined if my life has been moving in a positive or negative direction.

My friends have determined the quality and direction of my life.

I think this explains so much of what we see in college. Think about your biggest regret in college so far. I bet you were with your friends. Now think with me about the best part of college, the part you’re really proud of that was super fun and that you’re going to remember in 30 years. I bet you were with your friends.

I believe that the reason this insight rings so true with our experience is that it is based upon a principle found in the book of Proverbs. I 100% understand that you may not be on board with an old dusty piece of literature trying to tell you how to live your life, but I would ask you to consider the book of Proverbs for what it is: A book of advice that has been highly regarded by millions of people from a multitude of different cultural backgrounds, religions, and ethnicities for about 3000 years. If it has stood the test of time, then it is probably worth your time. As a recent graduate who just lived what you are going through I urge you to consider giving it a read.

Proverbs 13:20 says “Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise, but the companion of fools will suffer harm”. I have seen this time and time again in college. When I have walked with the wise, I have grown wiser and more mature, and when I have been a companion of fools, I have suffered harm. Need I say more? I could tell several stories here, but you have plenty of stories to share yourself.

This principle has defined my college experience, and I believe that it will define your college experience. The companions you choose will determine the quality of your life today and the direction it is heading in tomorrow. In college, when you walk with the wise you will grow wise, and when you are a companion of fools you will suffer harm. It is like the law of gravity, it is something that is just true about the universe. You need wise people who have your permission to ask you any question and people who will use that influence to encourage you and hold you accountable.

How do we actually do this? You’re probably thinking “So basically Caleb you’re telling me having great friends makes life better, thanks a bunch man real helpful”. This is hard. Friendship truly is a gift. My encouragement for you is to intentionally begin to put yourself where you will meet the people who are wise.

For me what this looked like on a practical level was that I made a commitment to always be in a small group. Next week I start medical school, and whatever my dear professors dish out I know that I have to be in a small group to survive. Come test, come oral presentation, come what may, I have learned that being in a small group is a nonnegotiable essential to getting through the week. Even when very stressed, I don’t accidentally go through an entire day without eating anything, and I don’t miss small group. I made that mistake during my initial struggle with organic chemistry, and getting back in community was what finally turned my grades around. Sometimes in order to do your best you have to study less.

There may not be a small group you want to join on your campus (although I would encourage you to go to www.northpointpartners.org and if there’s one in your city check out GroupLink, especially Athens folks), but as you go through your week I bet you know who the people are who are going in the direction you want to go. How can you put yourself where you will meet more people like them?

In conclusion, he who walks with the wise becomes wise, but a companion of fools suffers harm. In college, your friends will determine the quality and direction of your life.

FOR 50 BOTTA BONUS POINTS:

Sometime in the next two days, have a conversation with someone about this article or something else you have been learning. How easy it is for you to have that conversation?   This will give you a quick idea of how you are doing right now with this principle.

Note: This content is largely material from what had to be probably about 8 different talks over the years that I heard at InsideOut, North Point, and Transit framed around my experience. I am so grateful for the impact those organizations have had on my life.