Growing up my family was very religious and we would always go to church, sometimes even three times a week. I grew up In an Assembly of God church in northeastern Ohio. I moved to Arkansas in March of 2017. I was 11 years old in middle school. I had no idea about religion and how powerful the love of God is. I started to become friends with my still good friend John who attended a Baptist church right by our school. He asked me to come with him one Wednesday night for youth. That was went I met the most amazing people who would later change my life. I brought my siblings and family to church that next Sunday morning and we loved it so much! We went every Sunday and Wednesday night. I started to get more and more involved in the church. I got involved in the youth band and that's where God started to open doors for me. I got introduced to a teacher at my new school who also attended my church. The next year he was my 7th grade Physical sciences teacher. He showed me the joy of teaching and what it has to offer. He would make sure that my siblings and I stayed going to church and youth. The more I continued going the more Godly friends I started to have. I could see God working throughout my life. Eventually, that teacher became the youth leader and started doing amazing things in the church and kids' lives. I got nominated to be on the youth leadership team my senior year. Which was the biggest blessing ever. I created new relationships with the other leaders and a stronger connection with God. Being a leader I would lead worship, group discussion, and prayer. I felt so touched by my fellow peers who attended the church that I never thought would. I would walk around school and try to reach the kids who needed a friend or something to help them keep going by inviting them to church. Some would come and the ones that didn't would check up on them. Then in 2022, I was standing in church and my pastor was preaching the message I heard a voice in my head saying " Be a teacher" and automatically I thought of my youth pastor. He showed me the joy and how teaching can be fun for both kids and teachers. In November of 2022, I got baptized by my youth pastor and confessed my love for God to the world. That was the moment my life changed. I saw life through God's light! Now being a devoted follower of Christ I surround myself at college with Godly people and protect myself from the world. I plan on following this path forever and in my Teaching career. I do one day want to be a youth leader or involved in the youth and my church.