Being a writer is so much more than being able to put words on a page. God has placed a deep well of words in my heart, words that can do so much more than just be written and be read. Words can strike to the heart, cause the mind to wonder, arouse the soul. When I write, I draw from the well of words so that I everyone who reads my work can see what God has done for me, what God wants to do for them. As a writer, I have found that I am able to relate joy, misery, curiosity, and even suffering to my readers through a story. With my words, I am able to describe the deep, inner workings of a human person, to ask the ultimate questions that trouble so many souls. My hope is that my characters can relate to my readers through their suffering and pain, and let those readers know that they are not alone, they are not the only ones who have experienced betrayal, trauma, loss, despair—and that healing is possible. Another part of my inspiration comes from one of my favorite movies of all time, “Chariots of Fire,” a film about famous Olympic runners. Eric Liddell, a Scottish runner and a man of faith, is beset by his sister’s attempts at dissuading him from running in the Olympics since she believes his calling lies in preaching and missionary work. In reply, Eric says these words to his sister: “I believe God made me for a purpose… but He also made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” These words made me realize exactly what I was feeling when I wrote my own words: whenever I write, whenever I use this gift I have been given, whenever I use it to glorify God in some way, it pleases Him, and I sense it. When I write, I feel His pleasure. Writing is a massive undertaking, and a worthy one. However, it is also time-consuming, and time is not an easy thing to come by in the middle of one’s time at college. I am planning to take on a very rigorous academic schedule at college (to get my Bachelor’s in three years instead of four), but, as the fourth child in my family who will be pursuing higher education, I do not doubt that I can consistently find at least a little time to spend writing. I am dedicated to developing my writing in whatever free time I have. Writing is not just a hobby for me: for me, it’s a vocation. My dream is to follow this vocation wherever it leads, down the valleys and up the mountains, through deserts and across meadows—whether it takes me searching the deepest parts of the human soul or makes me ask desperate questions about the problems of evil in this world, it is a vocation to Beauty, and worth pursuing. I know God gifted me with writing for a purpose, and I want to fulfill that purpose in whatever way He desires, for as long as He desires. The Creator of the world gave me the ability to create my own world; my only wish is that my words contribute something to those in this world. “If I can ease one life the aching / Or cool one pain, / …I shall not live in vain” (Emily Dickinson).

My parents have raised me to be a good Christian since I was born; ever since I was little, I have learned that the purpose of life is “to know, love, and serve God, and be happy with Him in this life and the next.” However, it was only during the pandemic in 2020 that I really began to take my faith seriously and spend time in prayer to grow closer to God. Ever since then, this personal belief has kept me grounded in morality and integrity in whatever work I do: from the work I do for my education to my efforts in the workforce. I always endeavor to do my work as best I can, simply because I know it is the right thing to do. At the twilight of my life, when I stand before God, I want to be able to say, “Any work You gave me, God, I did to the best of my ability—because I knew that was what You wanted.” I am not perfect, so sometimes I fail, but I always pick myself back up, remember that God loves and forgives me, and try to do better next time. My personal faith has also kept me fixed on the ultimate goal: Heaven. Work and education are means to an end, and my end is eternity with the God who loves me and keeps me in existence. I am not entirely sure what my future career will be: many times, God has surprised me with the direction He wants me to take in life, so I do not want to make any predictions. I know my abilities and my preferences, so I have an idea of where I want to go, but I leave my future in God’s hands. Whatever I end up being and doing, I know God will help me and give me His grace. Even though I do not know the future, I can rest in the knowledge that He does, and He knows what is best for me. Whatever I do, I want to honor Him in my education and career, using my talents and abilities to glorify Him and bring others close to Him. I also know that whatever career or lifestyle I end up entering, I will encounter hardships and trials there. One of the most wonderful things about having faith in God is knowing that God can make good out of anything, and that trials never last forever. God holds everything and everyone in His hands, including me and every aspect of my life. The purpose of life is to know, love, and serve God, and to be happy with Him in this life and the next. Everything in this life—my career, my education, my family, my relationships, my talents and skills—must be oriented towards accomplishing this goal through God’s grace. Perhaps I do not know exactly what my life will look like five, ten, fifteen years from now, but whatever happens, I know that God will be with me, will be loving me, and will be helping me. That is what my faith has done for me, and will continue to do for me. “Love God, serve God; everything is in that" (Clare of Assisi).