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...
To encourage and empower the overcoming of hard things.