UPWARD AIM: Why it’s important and how to help your student have it
Dr. Jordan Peterson has become a polarizing cultural figure. Though not a Christ-follower, he effectively articulates the value of the Christian worldview, often provoking strong reactions. One of his most insightful messages—found in 12 Rules for Life—is about the necessity of aiming:
“We cannot navigate without something to aim at, and while in this world, we must always navigate. So, we would be wise to always aim at something.”
The biblical definition of sin—”to miss the mark”—reinforces our innate need to aim at something, to live our lives in a definite direction.
I’ve observed this firsthand with students and ‘drama.’ They get entangled in trivial conflicts without the productive challenge of striving toward their potential. Dr. Jimmy Scroggins put it well:
“Students need mountains to climb and battles to fight.”
This highlights why athletics, arts, and co-curricular are crucial—they provide those “mountains” and “battles,” helping students channel their aiming nature in healthy ways.
To help students grow into who God designed them to be, encourage them to engage in these three activities consistently:
- Practice Something:
Encourage students to commit to pursuits like playing a musical instrument, participating in theater, or joining an athletic team. These activities teach the value of delayed gratification—investing effort today for rewards tomorrow. - Serve Somewhere:
Volunteering is a powerful way for students to develop empathy and responsibility. Local churches, community centers, and charities always need helping hands, offering young people the chance to make a tangible difference in others’ lives. - Lead Someone:
Provide opportunities for students to take on leadership roles through school clubs, team captaincies, or mentoring younger peers. Our world needs courageous leaders, and our schools are filled with students ready to step up and make an impact.
Encouraging students to practice, serve, and lead helps them discover their God-given potential and prepares them to navigate life with purpose and resilience.
As students grow, they inevitably become who they aim to be. Research shows that parents influence their children most by continuing to develop themselves.
So, what about you? Are you aiming upward—practicing, serving, leading?
Let’s model what it means to aim up in 2025.
”For we are God’s MASTERPIECE, created in Christ Jesus to do good works *AIM UP*, which God prepared in advance for us to do.“ – Ephesians 2:10
