Cardinals and Courage

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...