Cardinals and Courage

After my time abroad and using my experience as educational opportunities, I finished my senior year of high school and headed off to college the following year at Truman State University. Here, my world would make another unforeseen shift. During my freshman year of college: on Valentine’s Day I got family news that was not great, on St. Patrick’s Day I got a “minor in possession of alcohol” citation, and on Easter I put diesel in my car. I laugh about this unfortunate series of events now, but at the time I was really struggling. I was struggling with the family situation, with making new friends, and learning that supposed friends were not genuine; all while navigating my way through classes and daily college life. The struggles did not seem to stop, and I began to feel very alone even when I was surrounded by people. I was angry, sad, and just trying to deal with the current situation. My first attempt to get out of the day-to-day rut was to go on a study abroad trip to Costa R...

Quarantine has brought moments of creativity, exploration, and lackadaisical thought. This season has encouraged me to learn, explore, listen, understand, finetune my values, and appreciate doing nothing. This exploration has transpired both naturally and intentionally, and I am thankful for the opportunties. The top 3 things I have explored are:   Independence- I value my independence and have had to learn how to navigate it during major life changes, which includes moving in with my Mom and Stepdad. I am forever grateful to have the ability to live with them, but I would be lying if I said it was rainbows and butterflies. This time has allowed me to assess which of my values are non-negotiables, independence, and how to maintain boundaries to stay true to myself.   Time- It is easy for me to fall into the hamster wheel of life. Wake up, work from home, workout, spend time with my Mom, Stepdad, and fur sisters, and go to bed. While routine is something I treasure, I like ...

The first time I recognized my unique gift of courage was when I went to Argentina for 10 months as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. It only seems fitting that I share that experience, as it ultimately changed the trajectory of my life. The experience made me realize that hard things are possible. I had a strong desire to travel from a young age and at only fifteen years old, I learned to adapt to situations I barely understood and that I can solve difficult problems. In addition to these skills, I made some of my best friends, traveled with other Youth Exchange students to incredible places throughout the entire country, and began the life-changing journey of learning about the woman I truly am, as well as the one I am becoming. An important note is that the summer before my eighth-grade year, I suddenly and very unexpectedly lost my Dad. With this emotional turmoil, I spent a lot of time trying to figure out life, and how to move on. This experience of loss and grief brought me the...

Cardinals . I believe that when you see a cardinal it means that a loved one is near.   I have lost many loved ones, and I treasure moments when I see a cardinal. These small moments bring   a sense of comfort, peace, and encouragement, especially when I am on a run. There have been countless times while running that I have seen a cardinal fly onto a tree branch at the exact time I want to quit.  I choose to see these as reminders to keep going, or simply that I’m not alone. Courage . According to the Merriam Webster dictionary, courage is the mental or moral strength to  venture , persevere, and withstand danger, fear, or difficulty. This is my intention for every day while empowering others along the way. I still remember my ninth grade English teacher telling me that I was courageous for deciding to be a Rotary Youth Exchange student. From that day on, I knew I had a special quality and that I needed to share it with others.  If you have ever though...