Change has been a constant theme since I graduated high school in May of 2018 from

Thunderridge. My journey began at bible school in a small town right at the most southern tip of

Germany in the small town of Friedrichshafen. It was there that my perspective on the

international world was stretched and reached a place of an educated, cultural understanding and

awareness. Being separated by family, time zones, and comfort, I quickly learned how to live life

without a quick call or text to “mom” or “dad”. In between semesters, I learned how to travel

Europe with no phone plan, a stolen passport in Florence, and on a budget of “hostel” hotel

living.

Following my year abroad, I decided to go to Grand Canyon University in Phoenix. I was

able to attend the university without loans and financial freedom post grad, which was a huge

factor in my decision. It was there that I realized my passion for social justice. Every Saturday

morning, I went over to the Dream Center (a local nonprofit where victims of sex-trafficking

receive help) with 7 other girls and had the opportunity to put together a bible study, a time of

worship, and use the rest of our mornings to build relationships with these girls who had been

rescued out of sex-trafficking and were working on beginning their lives again. In addition, the

young adult’s ministry I was involved with, Ankledeep, gave me the opportunity to speak in

front of over 300 hundred students, build deep relationships, and learn the ins and outs of

running a non-profit organization

Summer of COVID-19 was a summer of change for many. It was during this time that I

began to write and created a blog. In this blog, I used my faith and my story to make an effort to

encourage those hurting during the political unrest and painful social changes due to

quarantining and social distancing. About a week after my scholarship interview last summer, I

knew that Grand Canyon is not where I was going to graduate. Although I had a very fulfilling
experience with many opportunities in Phoenix, I knew there was a place that had more for me to

experience and grow from. I felt a deep unrest in Grand Canyon being the final academic

destination.

Wheaton College, right outside of Chicago, Illinois was a school that presented an

increase of academic rigor, a spot on the women’s soccer team, and a challenge that I knew

would grow me. After a year at Wheaton, I can say confidently that I experienced an immense

amount of growth. Transferring in the midst of a pandemic, playing college soccer, completing

classes partially via zoom, experiencing the pain of losing my grandfather and a close friend,

starting my own photography business, and getting involved as a volunteer with a Christian

organization called Younglife; this year was nothing short of change.

With each new transition and set of changes since graduating high school, I have learned

how to quickly adapt and to remain hopeful during challenges. These different experiences have

shaped much of who I am today and have only motivated me to work harder, take risks, and love

people well along the way. Obstacles and painful experiences in my life such as education during

a pandemic, loss of life, adapting to new social settings, and entering into realms where I feel

unprepared, have given me a greater perspective of the power of confidence and self-awareness,

the importance of an open-mind and adaptability, and the strength it takes to move forward with

unideal circumstances. Life will forever be full of change and unexpected obstacles and it has

been largely impactful for me to begin to learn how to reach for success despite what life is

presenting.

I am looking forward to another 3 semesters at Wheaton and will be taking on a new set

of changes as I begin an internship in the fall through 1st Trust Capital Partners in and as I join
Wheaton’s International Justice Mission Chapter in taking on the role of their Media and

Communications Officer.