Students can make important contributions

Blessed is he who in the prime of his youth and the heyday of his life will arise to serve the Cause of the Lord of the beginning and of the end, and adorn his heart with His love. The manifestation of such a grace is greater than the creation of the heavens and of the earth.

— Bahá’u’lláh

Students have some special opportunities for raising the banner of faith. Here are some examples.

Transition to tertiary study

Youth who move to a new place for university studies or vocational training are heartily encouraged to involve themselves in the Bahá’í community in that place. It is important to contact the Local Spiritual Assembly so that they can introduce you to the local friends and keep you informed of activities. Local Assemblies in students’ “home” communities can help by sending news of the movements of youth to the receiving Assemblies. Some students prefer to keep their hometown as their official place of residence and this is acceptable, but not a reason to hold back from participating in their “away” community.

University Bahá’í clubs

Bahá’í clubs for students operate in several universities. Open to all, they provide the means for organising occasions for discussion of the Teachings and making connections. You can ask the Local Assembly how to get in contact with the Bahá’í club at your university. If you find there is no Bahá’í club at the university you are enrolling at, you can potentially ask the Local Assembly for support in initiating one. Regardless of a formal Bahá’í club, there is every opportunity at the university to initiate meaningful conversations and invite your new friends to join you in a study circle or devotional space.

Contributing to the institute process

From the Universal House of Justice:

Appreciating the effectiveness of the institute process, every follower of Bahá’u’lláh will feel a desire to contribute to its advancement in some way—not least, the Bahá’í youth. Institutes know well that releasing the potential possessed by young people is, for them, a sacred charge; we now ask that Bahá’í youth view the future development of the institute in the very same light. At the vanguard of a nine-year, community-wide endeavour to bring the institute to a higher level of functioning, we expect to see a broad movement of youth setting the standard. They should seize every opportunity—in their schools and universities, and in spaces dedicated to work, family, or social interaction—to encourage more and more souls to benefit from the institute’s programmes. Some youth will be able to devote a period of service—perhaps even successive years—to the provision of education, especially to those younger than themselves; for many, support for the institute’s activities will be an ever-present dimension of their lives throughout their own education and as they seek a livelihood from their calling in this world; but for none should it be anything less than a cherished commitment.

— To the conference of the Continental Boards of Counsellors, 30 January 2021

ISGP seminars

All Bahá’í tertiary students in New Zealand are encouraged to participate in undergraduate seminars held annually by the Institute for Studies in Global Prosperity. The programme can be seen as a fundamental part of their higher education that assists them to reflect and learn from the action they are taking for the betterment of the world, to assume ownership of their education during the crucial years they spend at university, and to acquire the kind of knowledge that will enable them to live fruitful, productive and meaningful lives. The next seminars will be held in the 2023-24 summer holidays, probably in February 2024 — watch out for an announcement around August-September this year.

Observing Holy Days

Taking the day off school for a Holy Day not only enables a Bahá’í student to participate with their community in marking the Holy Day — it also demonstrates an example of commitment in the process of explaining the request for time off. A letter that can be given to the school for this purpose is attached:

(The above form letter also appears in another article published today about the importance of ceasing work and study on Holy Days.