My desired career path is to become a Chaplain in the United States Air Force. I currently am working on my Bachelors in Biblical Counseling with a plan to continue my education to earn a Masters in Divinity. After that, I will join the Chaplain Candidate Program to continue more education and on the job learning. I was called to this profession more than I chose to do it. I struggled a lot with my mental health. I had anxiety, depression, and was isolated from everything that I loved. I had been a lukewarm Christian, only relying on God for things when I wanted them and not giving him a second thought when things were easy. I attended church on Christmas and Easter and hardly ever opened my Bible. I used verses to put on my Instagram and Facebook posts, but nothing more. It was not until I read the verse, "Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age." (Matthew 28 19-20) to realize that I had a greater calling, a purpose in life. God has opened my eyes and called me to go out and spread the Good news of his Son, that he died for our sins and that we are saved! I believe the world is full of hurting souls that need to be reminded that they are loved by The Father and are just lost in the world, like I was. Chaplains help remind them of that. They are there to listen without judgement and guide them back home with grace. They help with any matter, nothing is to big or too small that they can not help with. They advocate for those that feel they do not have a voice by talking to commanders. They help change policies and increase morale in their units by hosting events that anyone can participate in. They help anyone that stops by their office and are available 24/7 for anyone. They speak to military members, their families, and the community around them. They pray over their units, asking for safety and well-being. It was a Chaplain that helped remind me that I was loved and that the moment of isolation in my life would pass and that I would be O.K. I know that I will be that Chaplain for others.

I think I resonate most with Pam from "The Office", however I find myself relating to every character in their own way. I am creative, sensitive, like to make jokes, and somewhat artistic. Like Pam, I am strong, I am ambitious, and I have a plan to follow my dreams. She changes as the show goes on and I too have changed as my life has gone on. While I do not have kids yet, I know that one day, I too will be a mom. The story of how my husband I met and fell in love is even similar to Pam and Jims. We worked together, he would make jokes and do silly things to pass the time, and I fell in love. He is sweet, compassionate, caring, and funny (and I think he is better at being romantic). Similar to the show, I like to have fun when I am at work, making my coworkers laugh, and knowing that pulling pranks on one another is a must-have. I recognize the good and the bad bosses, from the Michael Scotts and the Deangelo Vickers, to the Jim and Dwights. I see the need for Oscars, Phillises, Angelas, Kevins, and even Kellys to make a workplace work. I like the games they play to pass the time and know that along with the inner cubicle gossip and inside jokes, every person matters.

I absolutely loved playing Mario Kart on my Nintendo D.S. Yes, I'll admit, I am old. Family road trips were never the same when you did not have a fully charged D.S.(if you could remember to plug it in the night before), all the games you could hold in your hands, and siblings to argue with in the back seat when you fell of the Rainbow Bridge, got inked out by the infamous squid, or lost the lead to the blue shell that was always given to the person in second place. I remember the times my sister and I would argue over Luigi, my favorite character because he was green, and the car he drove, because somehow it was faster than the rest, and he had the coolest mansion. I remember the times my brother and I would hit each other with green and red shells just for the fun of it, laughing when the other wiped out. And there truly was nothing quite like learning how to get the speed boost at the start of the game knowing it only helped your odds to win. I am sure it entertained my parents a lot to hear the giggles of mischief from one of us when we got something that could change the course of the game entirely. My siblings and I are grown now, but the memories of our races and who was the true winner back then will always stay with us. And if we ever need a rematch, we now pull out our Switch and battle it head-to-head like the good old days.

Moses, when he led the Israelites out of Egypt and to the promise land, was a leader. David, slaying the giant Goliath with a rock, was a leader. And Jesus, who healed broken people, and died for everyone's sins, was the greatest leader of all, and he's not even done yet. Leadership comes in all shapes and sizes. It can be advocating for those around you, for speaking up for what is right, despite how many are against you, and so much more. "Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others" (Philippians 2:4). A leader can both be good and bad, but it is a person who people look at to follow. I believe I am a good leader, yet I know I can improve on much. Being in the military, leadership is a common discussion. Everyone should be a leader, no matter what their rank is or where they are from. Many people have different experiences, and strategies for solving problems. Each of us is unique and serve a purpose on this Earth, making each of us leaders in our own way. Leaders should recognize the talents and traits each person has and delegate tasks to make them the best that they can be. Leaders should do what is right and just and not for their own gain, but for the gains of others. A good leader is one who can lead honestly, be trustworthy, and sacrifices much of themselves for the well-being of others. I am a leader who fights for what is right. I speak up for those that are too afraid, too weak, or just can not speak up for themselves. I lead by example, with my hard work and dedication to both the military and my college. I speak about my faith, planting seeds of Christ and allowing for my faith to be questioned by others, it is what makes me resilient. I lead by showing grace and forgiveness to those that many might question if they deserve it. Am I a perfect leader like Jesus? No, I am not. But that is ok! Leaders are meant to face challenges, adversity, and get knocked down a peg every once in a while. They stand out from others because they decide to get back up again, despite being down. They learn from past mistakes and grow to be better in the future. I plan on using my education to further my abilities to lead. I will be using my degree to become a Chaplain. In doing so, I will be able to lead many people to Christ. I will help service members and their families deal with any many that comes their way. I will be able to speak up for those that are being oppressed and push for changes within the command. Being a leader is serving those around you.

What could go wrong? I thought. The answer: apparently everything. My started out quite unexpectedly with the sound of my dog vomiting all over my bed. Ah yes, the sound any pet parent will never forget, an alarm so effective where every millisecond counts in waking up and rushing through the darkness to the poor being about to ruin yet another blanket, pillow, or the carpet. There is no snoozing going on here. Its almost as if pets instinctively think to themselves "hmmmm what else can I destroy" before retching. But I digress. Since the abrupt wake up, cleaning up the smell of wet kibble, and whatever else my dog found to devour before bed, there was no way I was going back to sleep anytime soon. So I chose to get up and start my day early at the ripe time of 3am. Being the optimist I am, I thought to myself, Aside from having to clean up dog vomit, what could go wrong with getting a nice jump start to the day? I showered, got dressed and was out the door to get coffee from a local coffee shop that served the absolute best Iced Americano. Right as I stepped out the door I told myself I was forgetting something, but was determined to get going. I made it to my car, turned the key and heard the familiar *click* *click* *click* of it trying to gain enough energy to start, meaning my battery was very dead. Great, I thought, now I have to walk, but least it will be good exercise and honestly what else can go wrong? I began my journey, the 5 mile trek to the coffee shop from my house, all up hill (almost like the stories my parents told me of how they got to school when they were kids, except it was not snowing, and I did have adequate footwear). Over an hour later and covered in sweat, I walked in to the shop, ordered and was about to pay when I realized that the thing I had forgotten was none other than my phone and wallet. Figures, I should not have been in such a rush to get out of the house. So there I left, empty handed to head back home. I had just walked outside when a car drove up, so close to the curb, splashing a puddle from last nights rain shower all over me. Drenched yet again, but this time in dirty water, I headed home. I was almost there too, a car pulled up and I was thrown into it, knocked out, kidnapped. When I finally came to, I was tied up to a rusty post in a warehouse that looked quite abandoned. I tried everything I could to free myself before my capture returned, but was unsuccessful. They walked in from a door that must have been behind me because all I heard were footsteps that stopped only a few feet out of my line of sight. "Why did you kidnap me?" I asked, trying to sound as confident as I could. "We need you," the voice responded. "You've been gone for too long." Gone? Gone from what? You may be asking. Well, the thing is is I am powerful. I was born into a family that had control over all of natures elements and have ruled the earth for thousands of years. Powers like these only pass down to the males in our bloodline. There was a feud that broke out among my great-grandparents and they were blessed to rule the world. The only problem is is a prophecy came about stating that their blessing would only last as long as no female heir was born with powers. Kind of hard to do when powers only pass down to the males in the bloodline. But somehow I was born and when my powers came about, my mom insisted I go into hiding to protect everyone in my family. "What could go wrong?" I said to her before I left, not knowing the power I held. Well, now the world is in chaos with my bloodline fighting to become rulers again, searching for me to kill me. So short answer: everything.

Jesus was not kidding when he said, "I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me." (John 14:6). But what is truth? And what does this scripture even mean? The truth is many things. It is Jesus affirming that he is the Messiah, that he is God in the flesh, that his promises are true and his rules are final. Truth as defined by John MacArthur, in his article "What is Truth" is, "that which is consistent with the mind, will, character, glory, and being of God," he continues to simplify it, stating that it is, "the self-expression of God." God, who established the rules of right and wrong, what is sinful and what is not, is the ultimate authority of truth. So Jesus, the incarnate God, was not kidding when he said that he is the truth. There should be no difference between today's view of individual or "my" truth and God's truth, so what is the problem? Well, the problem is the same as it was in Adam and Eve's time: sin. Sin has taken the truth of the Lord and twisted it, making it unrecognizable. Many sheep have strayed from the Word, making it easy to get lost amidst the sins of the world and therefore, coming up with their own truths to try and navigate it. "If you hold to my teaching, you are really my disciples. Then you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free" (John 8:31-32). Here is another example of Jesus confirming to the Jews who believed in him, that he is truth. In this passage he is telling them that by following and believing in him, they will be free from the eternal death that comes from sin. He is truth because he is God and free from all sin. Later in the same passage he says, "Can any of you prove me guilty of sin? If I am telling the truth, why don’t you believe me? Whoever belongs to God hears what God says. The reason you do not hear is that you do not belong to God" (John 8:46-47). Unfortunately, many people reject the Gospel for this such reason. They believe their truth to the be authoritative way the world works, where everyone else is wrong. Many times, their beliefs do not align with Scripture causing them to become defensive and reject Scripture.

"Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, 'Whom shall I send? And who will go for us?' And I said, 'Here am I. Send me!'" (Isaiah 6:8). My story of coming to Christ is similar to many. I grew up being a lukewarm Christian, one who took Christ's sacrifice for granted. It wasn't until I was at my lowest point in my life, isolated and alone, when God found me and took me out of the darkness and I began to see the true meaning of his sacrifice. I plan to use my experiences to help those who are in situations like myself, to plant seeds of Christ into everyone's life. I am attending Liberty University, a Southern Baptist College located in Virginia, where I am pursuing an undergraduate degree in Biblical Counseling, with plans to get my Master's in Chaplaincy so that I can become a chaplain in the United States Air Force. I currently serve in the military and this degree with not only help me gain a closer relationship with God, but it will allow me to help so many hurting souls. Chaplains in the military are there for all sorts of reasons. They provide invocations for events, increase morale, and most importantly, counseling for service members, their families, and the community they are living in. They host volunteer events to help the community surrounding the bases. They give guidance to commanders, sparking policy changes for a multitude of reasons, including advancing efforts towards mental health awareness for service members. Chaplains assist in guiding people after traumatic events and providing spiritual support. Biblical counseling follows the belief of Sufficiency of Scripture, believing that God is the ultimate healer, and that, while some secular ways of counseling (i.e. Psychology) has validity, it is not necessary for hurting people. It bridges the gap between the Bible and counseling where counselors can use their knowledge of both to help churches better teach others to look at worldly problems through a Christian perspective.

I grew up wanting to become a police officer, to protect those that could not protect themselves (and to solve cool murder cases). Over the years of my childhood and teens, plans changed, but the drive to protect people was still there, along with my desire to travel the world, so I enlisted in the military. Never once did I think I would choose to make a career out of it, nor would I be planning to become a Chaplain, but here I am, looking towards making the military my career before I even finish my first contract. The military has indeed taken me to some pretty cool places and it has introduced me to the most amazing people I know. People who work hard day in and day out for one another and for the country that they swore an oath to protect. People from every walk of life join the military, from those that grew up with everything, and those from broken homes. Its a humbling experience to join, one that cannot fully be described in a quick essay. The military even introduced me to my husband, who I never would have met if not for placing me where I was at just the right time. The military has given me a second family, one that is spread out over the globe, but there for you whenever you need them. These wonderful people are there for me to celebrate holidays with when we cannot make it back home, the joys of parenthood (even when all I have are dogs), and there to support you through the sorrows of losses. It makes me appreciate the little things in life and never take anything for granted. In the military I found God more than what I had ever known him to be and he gave me the calling to become a Chaplain, to help those around me, my fellow service men and women. I want to give all that I can to those around me in the military, their families, and the community that I live in. I am so grateful for the experiences that I've been blessed to have and the people I get to serve beside. I look towards my predecessors for guidance and hope to follow in their very large footsteps. So, no, I am not solving cool murder cases, but I am doing so, so much more than that.

"Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go" (Joshua 1:9). God truly has been with me wherever I have gone and wherever the military has taken me. He was with me when I was 4000 miles away from my husband, when I felt all alone and he was with me on the day I graduated bootcamp, getting to see my family for the first time in months. God has always been with me by my side, cheering me on. I believe it should be everyone's duty to serve this country we are blessed to call home. A country that has freedom to practice the religion we choose, to live the life we want, and to work hard to make an honest living. I joined the military, admittedly to travel the world, but since being in, I have realized that it is so much more than that. It is a family, rough on the edges, but united as one when it matters. We celebrate holidays together when we cannot make it back to where we are from. We celebrate joys of parenthood, families coming together, and our proud and rich history that makes us who we are. We are there for each other amidst tragedies too, holding each other when times are tough and we suffer losses. We take care of one another as families do. The military is an ideal melting pot of the United States, with people from every corner of this country, of every ethnicity, happy to serve the nation. It is honorable and sacrificial. Seeing my peers, my fellow servicemen and women, all that they have overcome to get to where they are today, motivates me. Seeing the hurt that they still sometimes face, the trauma they must endure to keep the nation safe motivates me to help them. Being with those who cannot take leave to visit families that are burying a loved one, welcoming a newborn, or celebrating a holiday, motivates me to do what I can for those around me. I plan to become a Chaplain in the military to give back to those that have served and currently serve. In becoming a Chaplain, I will assist my peers in their spirituality and mental fitness. I will be there for those that suffer traumas, those that need guidance, and everything in between. Serving those that serve this wonderful country so that they can be at their best to serve.

Adventure, love, compassion, empathy. What haven't I learned from the books that I have grown up reading and loving? Each story is a adventure in itself and I plan to go on each and every journey. I grew up reading Percy Jackson, The Hunger Games, Divergent, and any young adult book in a dystopian society. One of my most personal favorites is "The Mortal Instrument" series by Cassandra Clare. Clary, the main character, is strong and battles some of Hell's worst demons beginning at the ripe age of 15. I like it because of the religious references that Clare includes in all of her books and the diversity she includes in all of her characters. Books like Chronicles of Narnia further influenced my faith tying religion in such a unique way. These books helped me get through the challenges of being a teenager, dealing with bullies, drama, and all the problems one has as a teen. Since getting older and reading the "Classics" throughout high school, reading about wars and how against all odds, people like Louis "Louie" Zamperini (a real person) can survive even the worst treatments of being a POW in WW2, I have felt strong, courageous, and empowered. The characters in all of these books taught me that it was O.K. to be the underdog and that I too could be strong despite being small and a female. They gave me the courage to join the military and defeat stereotypes of being a big, strong man. They taught me that defeat happens, but if we keep getting back up, standing strong for what is right, we will win in the end. Finally, my favorite book of all, The Bible, has inspired me to follow a religious calling. In one of my most challenging times in life thus far, I stumbled on Matthew chapter 28. Jesus had died and rose again, calling for his disciples to "go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit" (Matt. 28:19). This filled me with the most joy that I had felt in such a long time. It gave me my purpose and strength in a whole new light. Since reading Matthew chapter 28, I have been going to school to persue a degree in Biblical Counseling with a future plan of continuing my education to become a Chaplain. Like these characters, I will always stand for what I believe, no matter how many times the world wants to knock me down.

Depression affects everyone differently. For me, I shut down to the world when my husband and I were on two separate coasts, 4000 miles apart, and newly married. I slept as much as I could to pass the time and I could not find enjoyment in anything that I used to love. I struggled to keep in contact with my family and picked fights with my husband almost every day on things that did not even matter. I had no friends and my work ethic was minimal. I was alone and isolated in a remote area with no one to comfort me, not even those who had tried their hardest. Some people in my situation would have probably taken their lives. Others, put on medicine to cope. I was one of the fortunate few and God met me in my weakness. He saved me and took me out of my darkness, helping me to realize that I can help save other's like me, to "make disciples of every nation" (Matt. 28:19). And that is just what I plan to do. I believe that our experiences shape us to who we are and what we will become. Those that have struggled with mental health can make the best healers. We can be the people that we needed most when we struggled. A deeper awareness of mental health often fosters empathy and compassion, which is vital to healing. Personally, I know that I am stronger because of my struggles with depression and anxiety. I know how to navigate tough waters and I rely on God whenever I am struggling. I now view mental health as something to advocate for for myself and my peers. Being a service member, it can be difficult to find help or even ask for it and I plan to work to change that by being a Chaplain in the military. This mental health provider has 100% confidentiality, yet has the authority to influence commanders on policy changes to better serve the service members under their command. They host morale events to take time off from work for all sorts of reasons. They provide accommodations for members to freely practice whatever religion the service member is a part of, and they are the first avenue of support for service members after traumatic events that they face in and out of the service. The only medicine they prescribe is the Holy Spirit. They accept everyone, not just people of those of their specific denomination. Personal experiences with mental health can influence career goals in significant ways, for me, it was my calling to become a Chaplain in the United States Air Force, something I never thought I would do. Some people may be drawn to careers in mental health, counseling, or social work, driven by a desire to help others who face similar challenges. I thankfully was one of those people and I am looking forward to helping families once I achieve my degree. I plan to reach out to as many people as I can to make sure they are mentally healthy. This includes service members, their families, and the community that I live in.

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.” Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV). My testimony story starts out like most. I grew up in a faith-based household going to churches on Sunday's. My mother's strong faith always inspired me and I looked up to her a lot, and still do. Over the years and busy lives my family began to go to church less and less. But God stepped in and knew that a relationship with him was important, and I began to go to a youth group at a church that my neighbor was the pastor of. Her son, my twin brother, and I, grew up together and went to the youth group weekly. Through heartbreaks and challenges in school I continued to turn towards the comforting embrace of this group of strange teenagers who learned about God's love. Right after the graduation of high school, I joined the United States Air Force, where my faith has grown immensely. To begin, 7.5 weeks without a phone and drill instructors screaming at me will change anyone for the better. I began to open up my Bible more and more to read the stories within for the very first time. After bootcamp, at my follow-on training, I went to church weekly. After that, I went to my first duty station, where I was 4000 miles apart from my husband, who is also in the military. We did long distance for over a year praying that God would bring us together. The isolation of being so far away from my husband and my family only strengthened my relationship with God as I looked to him whenever I was sad or lonely, knowing that he was there with me. The quote above always gave me hope and continues to bring me hope in times of trouble and sadness. Finally, the military drafted me orders and I got to move to be with my husband. In that time of being alone, God reached out to me with plans for my future, to spread his Glory and help as many people as possible in his name. I am going to school using tuition assistance from the military, yet it is not enough. The TA only covers $4,500 per fiscal year, equating to roughly 6 classes that I could take for a full year, which is why I am applying for scholarships. I am pursuing a bachelors degree in Biblical Counseling and a Masters in Divinity. After college, and more training, I will commission in the United States Air Force as a Chaplain to help Airmen, Marines, Soldiers, Sailors, Specialists, and their families.