My Story!
In third grade, I started at a new school where I didn’t know anyone. My approach was pretty simple: be nice to everyone, treat everyone with respect, and invite anyone who wanted to join me. I wouldn’t have called it a philosophy back then, but it’s still a pretty good description of how I approach life.
With two campus pastors as parents, I grew up around college students who could make even an ordinary car ride or a trip for pizza memorable. That spirit has stayed with me. I love finding ways to make everyday life a little more fun, and I’m always looking for people to bring along. Whether I’m organizing a powdered-paint fight with friends or noticing someone on the sidelines, I want people to know they’re welcome to be part of the moment.
My family is one of the greatest gifts in my life. I have two adopted siblings, Nevaeh and Jeremiah, who are African American, so I grew up in a mixed-race home, something people might not know just by looking at me. Nevaeh is learning to drive, and Jeremiah plays linebacker for both his JV and varsity football teams. They’re my brother and sister, and I can’t imagine telling you who I am without telling you how much they mean to me.
My parents are my heroes. They moved away from family in small-town Illinois and Michigan to Charlottesville, where they knew nobody, and started a campus ministry that has since touched thousands of lives. To me, they’re ordinary people who listened to God and did extraordinary things. Their willingness to follow Him into the unknown is something I deeply admire. My own Christian faith is the most important part of my life and shapes how I approach my relationships, my work, and the person I hope to become.
I also have an active imagination and can get completely absorbed in a good story. Lately, that’s been The Mentalist. What stays with me is how it portrays the messiness of life and the relationships that help people move forward through it. That’s a big part of why I love getting to know people: there’s always more to someone than you see at first, and getting to see those pieces is one of the best gifts you can be given!
At the end of the day, I want to help people and make an impact. I’ve seen through my parents how much can come from caring for people and being willing to take a step into the unknown. Wherever life takes me, I want people to feel welcome around me, know they matter to me, and have a few great stories to tell along the way.