Don't ask God to guide your footsteps, if you're not willing to move.

  When we are young,  you start creating goals for yourself, ambitions that you think that after you work hard and stay after that dream-you can eventually get there. When I was little, I was just like everyone else, I wanted to be a doctor, a vet, a teacher.  I didn't have my mind made up because I had my whole life ahead of me to decide what I wanted to do. Things change though. People change. Something that stayed the same though was my summer plans. Besides going to  basketball and cheerleading camps, I always went to Camp Chula Vista- A church of God camp in Pell City. When I was thirteen I was able to go to my first teen camp and I was beyond excited. My excitement quickly became a terror when our mess hall's deck collapsed while waiting for lunch on the second day of camp. Several campers were injured and sadly we all knew that Camp Chula Vista would never be the same. I say that for two reasons- one because of the camp deck and two because of the speaker who would impact my life greatly.
    Pastor Brandon was leading Camp that week, and it was a first of many  being as he was a prophet of Jesus's, and I had never experienced that. Tuesday night, the day of the deck collapse, he picked myself and a good friend of mine who also studies at UNA out of the crowd and prophesied over our lives. In that moment, I was completely changed because God had revealed to me my purpose in the world. I was still a little girl, but showed me that this little girl could make a difference if I followed his will for my life. Pastor Brandon told me that I would be a journalist-because I will be incorporating something that I love, writing, in with my job. He also told me that I will be affecting change and be known all over the world. At thirteen, you can imagine the emotions I felt. I was scared, excited, nervous., but most of all ready. I was ready to fulfill God's will. I wanted to start that day.
     I tell you all of this to say that I soon sought out all opportunities to get me where Pastor Brandon said I would be. I went to a Journalism Day at Auburn my Junior year (And I'm a die-hard Alabama fan.) I was selected to go to Japan, Girl's State, and lucked out with several awards at Falkville.  I also had little things come up that showed me I was on the right path in following God's plan. I made sure to keep my grades up in hope of getting scholarships all while playing four sports. I ended up graduating Salutatorian. So in high school, everything paid off. I chose to come to UNA because of the scholarship they offered me. Since I've been at UNA I have been inducted in two honor societies, worked for the Flor-Ala, The Times Daily, Interned at Rick and Bubba, broadcasted with JD Byars and the UNA Lions Sports Network, and work for FCA of North Alabama.
   Having said all of this to tell you that the work is worth it. It is a long journey to ever achieve a goal, whether it is small like a A on a test, bigger like an A in a class, or huge like being a sideline reporter for ESPN, you have to sweat to see the results. I don't just mean that metaphorically. Michael Jordan, "I'm not out there sweating for three hours just to see what it is like to sweat." You have to put in the effort, the work to see the results. I encourage everyone to seek what they are good at, and go after being the best at it. God gives everyone talents for a reason. He wants you to use them for the gain of his glory!
   Follow your dreams, set high goals and go after them with your whole heart. The results will come if you put in the effort :).
"I learned that the only way you are going to get anywhere in life is to work hard at it. Whether you're a musician, a writer, an athlete or a businessman, there is no getting around it. If you do, you'll win-if you don't you won't."- Bruce Jenner.