The Prelude
It's funny how different your life turns out than what you expected it to be. If things went the way I thought it should, I would be traveling around the world running professionally. Well... Not quite at that point just yet. Sometimes, God brings things upon your heart that may seem completely out of your comfort zone. A lot of questions and doubt arise from these plans that leave you asking "Are you sure you want what is best for me?". As a human we all think we know what is best for us, but the reality is what we think is best will not always allow for potential growth or impact. Five years later, I am sitting here in the process of support raising for my internship with Athletes in Action that starts this coming fall.
As a sister organization of CRU ministries, AIA aims to reach out to college athletes around the world to introduce them to Christ along with helping them find their identity and worth outside of the sport they play. I have told my personal story, or testimony, numerous times now and I could be considered the poster child of an athlete turning their life around for the better. Seeing the negative media on college athletes completely breaks my heart because I know there's a certain emptiness inside them that stems from focusing solely on their performance. I remember all of the times my happiness was dependent upon running a fast time or winning a race. If it did no go according to plan, I would turn to alcohol, relationships, and self harm to help me forget what a failure I was. It wasn't until Christ and Athletes in Action that I was able to look at the bigger picture outside of my sport. Attending bible studies, retreats, and gatherings not only helped me form life long friendships, but helped me grow as a person and to be able to speak out about my issues in hopes that it can help others. I owe so much to this organization for changing my life for the better. This is why I want to fulfill God's plan to come on staff so I can reach so many others.
I am currently looking for individuals to help support me financially this year so that I can accomplish my dreams of reaching the hearts of athletes at NC State. My goal is to take what I learned and use my story to change the culture of athletes into something that can be used for good. At the end of the day, materialistic things should not control your life. Having something eternal, which I learned from AIA, to hold on to, 100% feeds my soul to create true happiness. I would love for those of you who feel a passion for making a difference to consider joining my team so that I'm able to start making an impact. The link to my "give" site is below. It gives you the opportunity to learn more about me and donate to the cause. Just know, I appreciate each and every one of you that are willing to listen to something that is close to my heart. You can be a part of something that touches so many people and saves them from the darkness they are experiencing from the pressures of performance and temptation.
https://give.cru.org/0936234