I was broken. I was all alone, with no one there to give me a lifting hand. I searched high and low, but there was still no one there. I thought it was the end and that there was no hope for me. But I did not realize this was only the beginning. A beginning of fresh hope and peace, of love that will cover a multitude of sins. His unchanging hand reached out to me to give me a lifting hand. When I thought I was all alone, he was there right beside me. When I think of his great name, there's a fire that burns within me that keeps me going. To keep running this race and that no matter what, I can stand until the very end. Nothing can shake my faith, for Christ is the rock I stand on. The closer I got to the hem of his garment, the deeper my faith became. The more I read his word, the more I communicated with him through prayer, and the more I spent time with him in the secret place. It was as if the scales from my eyes had been removed.  All of my doubts and fears begin to fade away. The lost hope I had diminished, and what remained was this strong faith in Jesus. My whole life, I believed that there was no future for me. My dream of starting my own clothing line is impossible. My dream of being an accountant was just too impossible. Where can I get an education? And if I do find out, who’s paying for it? I begin to go into this spiral of doubt. Everyone seems to be accomplishing what they want in life, but I’m still stuck in the grimy mud with no ray of sunlight. But now I have this great hero who pulled me out of the miry clay, and his name is Jesus. Who gave me new hope and helped strengthen my faith. His words encourage me every day, and two of them continue to stand. He says in Jeremiah 29:11, “For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” He says in Isaiah 43:1, "Fear not, for I have redeemed you. I have called you by name. You are mine." He encouraged me to be a powerful woman of God. Not only that, but a missionary, a dancer, and a singer. To be a fashion designer for praise dancers by creating affordable dancing attire for them to wear. No more looking at clothing websites that are just too expensive. To be an accountant for Christian business owners to help organize their finances and help grow their business. He also encouraged me to write a book sharing my testimony on how he saved my life. When I thought I was better off dead, he breathed life into me. He took all my doubts, fears, dreams, and goals and turned them around into something more beautiful. By the grace of God, I've been accepted into Florida International University in Miami, Florida. Thanks to him, I'm able to pursue my education in accounting and take up another degree in entrepreneurship. I will continue to have faith by standing on his word. No matter what circumstances I face, whether it's spiritually, physically, emotionally, or financially, his word will help me to stand.

Reading books has been something I have been doing at an early age. I have read so many of them. I remember I was always so excited to go to the library at my elementary school to read books. I will check out two books and read them. Reading books helped me to learn how to talk more professionally. Reading books also inspired me to write my very own book. A book that tells my story of how God saved me from a bloodline curse that had me bound for 12 years. But enough about me. There is this one book that I read during my senior year, and it has inspired me and helped me become the person I am today and will be in the future. The name of the book is “Living for God as Courageous Teens” by Michael Catt with Amy Parker. The book started off talking about a flag bearer who was so far ahead of the regiment. The officer wanted to bring the flag back to the regiment, but the commanding officer said “No, make the regiment catch up with the flag!” At first, when I read this, I was confused until I continued to read. The author was comparing the flag to Christ while the regiment is the young people. The author begins to add that it is time for young people to catch up to the flag of Christ who is ahead of us. He also explains that many young people grow up not knowing Christ or are just churchgoers. He wants to teach young people how to live for Christ and understand who He is. Then as I continue to read the book, the author talks about having faith and not being afraid as a way of being courageous. That there will be many obstacles but as young people we need to learn how to not allow the obstacles to stop us from moving forward. He also states that it’s time to move on and that the more we get closer to Christ we will lose some people. The higher you climb the further you are away from the ground meaning the further you are away from the world. This encouraged me because as a believer of Christ and wanting to live my life through Him, I was struggling with my faith, but the author of this book encouraged me to keep going and to keep having faith. To never stop trusting God. That I can do all things through Christ. To continue pursuing my dreams. My dream is to become a fashion designer and start my fashion line by creating dancing attire and flags. I want to help dance instructors find affordable clothing for their dancers including flags. Also, to write my very own book to use my story to encourage people of all ages that if God did it for me, he can do it for them. That he can save them from the hands of the enemy just as he saved me. I want to encourage them to keep having faith and wait on God because that is exactly what I had to learn, and the waiting process was worth it. Just reading one book has completely changed my mind set and helped me to have a broader perspective on life.