I sometimes wonder where I would be now if Jesus in his infinite and perfect love for us did not reach out and make himself be known to me. I believe that anyone who makes that personal encounter with God will have their life changed forever. I was born Muslim from a Muslim family and I received Jesus wholeheartedly last year in January 2020. I still remember the very day when I understood there is more to life than the way I was living. Back in the time when I was Muslim, I somehow accepted the fact that Jesus is the son of God, not knowing why I trusted it to be so even though most Muslims would feel irritated by that statement. Today, I now understand why for so many years ago I felt like my life was lacking something. I would look and search into so many things in life to fill that emptiness in my heart, but all this time, Jesus alone was the only one that could fill that part missing in me that nothing else could compensate. On the second week of January 2020, I went through an experience that awakened my spirit and allowed me to find God and accept Jesus as the way, the truth, the light, and my God and redeemer. Through that experience where my life was at stake with no human power to save me, it was the name of Jesus that came to me and I called upon him to help me. He restored me entirely to the way I was, and I made him the promise to forever testify to others about his deep love for us all and what he has done for me. Today, I realized that it was Jesus himself back then through the Holy Spirit, guiding me to him, putting on my lips his name to be called upon, putting in my heart to trust in him and in his love for us. That day, I gave my life to Jesus and with all my heart I said that I would from then on live my life for him alone. I have been walking with Jesus since then and he has changed my life and is continuing to do so. Even though the year 2020 has been very challenging in so many ways, I found myself reaching out to those in need more than I ever did in my life because he changed my heart and helped me see what I was not seeing before. Despite my own financial struggle, I gave some of my finances to those that were less fortunate than me. When I struggled emotionally, he helped me back up as my source of joy so I can give joy and comfort to the people around me. My walk with Jesus ever since has been a blessing. He helped me change so many things in me, freed me from a lot of addictions, and helped me accept myself for who I am. He also helped me discover the beauty within me, change my bad habits me and strengthened my relationship with my parents. He came and gave my life a meaning: a purpose. I now want and live to serve and help people as Christ did. Difficulties surely come into my life, but he always gets me back on my feet when I think I would never make it. He helped me trust more and more in him every day and has never failed me. Last year, for example, I registered in five classes all at once about three weeks late for financial reasons. It seemed almost impossible to catch up in all five classes because they each were very challenging. I felt every day that same overwhelming pressure we sometimes get during final exams. I almost gave up many times, but Jesus had me trust him that he will help me make it. He was my strength when I felt defeated, my keeper when I had to stay up entire nights to study and catch up. He also was there to help me be and stay organized as best as possible and I ended up the semester with straight A’s besides one class where I got a B. He also helped me as an international student get a good scholarship to help me pay for that semester when things seemed hopeless for me. In him I trust, so I trust in him this time again to take care of me.

My name is Saratou Konseiga and I am a first-generation college student studying food science at Iowa State University/ (ISU) to become a food product developer. I have developed an interest in food science because since I could remember I have liked food in all its aspects. People use to tell me that my eyes are sparkling whenever I was talking about food and that I really have a passion for it. I have developed more interest in food product development because I like mixing food products to see what would come out as a result. Food science is therefore the mean by which I can gain the scientific knowledge I need to safely and objectively apply the principles of chemistry, science, and nutrition to bring new food products to life. I want to play a role in bringing to the tables healthier and diverse options of food products. My goal as a food product developer is foremost to benefit people. I desire strongly to help underdeveloped and developing countries around the world, especially in Africa like my birth country Burkina-Faso to fight against food hunger, malnutrition and achieve food safety by becoming sustainable. I would like to develop diverse appealing and healthy food products that will emphasize each of these countries’ food staples which will then enhance local food consumption above all. Last year has been a very difficult time for me and that has changed in many ways what I value most in life. It opened my eyes to a world that needs so much love and help throughout the everyday act of love, compassion, and care. I therefore actively invest myself in social science education to help both uneducated men and women and single parents establish effective sources of income in poor countries through activities revolving around agricultural production. I would also like to implement informative campaigns to educate people about healthy eating and how the use of local resources for food consumption can boost the economical state of a population and of a country. I believe these will result in the development of agriculture and related industrialization sectors which will improve their life condition by ensuring that they have access to food and can afford medical care and living expenses. The words I like to meditate on most are "There is more joy in giving than receiving". I, therefore, want my life to be one of gratitude for all the help that I have received so far to be where I am. I want to serve all in need of help as I have been helped to get where I am in life and will need more of it to get where I aspire to be in the future.