For a long time, my identity had been placed in the want to be known as the smart girl, a good person, successful, and accepted. I accepted Christ at a young age and grew up in a Christian home, but until high school, I didn’t understand the importance of placing my identity in God instead…
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On the outside, one may say that I have my life pretty well together. After all, I’ve done well in school, should be graduating without debt, and have promising career options ahead of me. By any standard, this is what success at this stage of life looks like, right? I mean, what else is there…
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I just wanted to be loved. Everything I did, I did because I wanted to be wanted and belong. I thought that if I was perfect- getting good grades, being the best in my hobbies, being kindest friend- I would somehow earn the favor of my peers and my family. I thought the more that…
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I came to UW-Madison in search of academic success, with hopefully a little fun thrown in. My expectation was that success as a college student would translate into the American dream–a great career, financial abundance, material possessions, a beautiful family–in short, a long, happy life. I had learned in my earlier years of training and…
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I have always “believed” in Jesus and the words of the Bible, but my faith has not always been at the forefront of my life. I have always sought out approval from others, such as my parents, siblings, teachers, and friends. I always felt like I had to be the best at everything that I…
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Sports have played a big role in my life ever since kindergarten, when I joined my first soccer team. I quickly became a multiple sport athlete, and sports were the most important part of my life in middle school and high school. Another big part of my life we’re my two older brothers, Brad and…
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Growing up in a Christian home, I knew about God, but I never really understood what it meant to have a relationship with Him. I went on mission trips with my church, would occasionally pray, and was extremely involved in programs at church, but that was the extent of my faith. Over time, I began…
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In high school, I had a lot of security in my identity as a good person. I didn’t do a lot of the morally “bad” things that I watched the people around me slip into. I felt that I generally had my life together because I didn’t do those things and I took pride in…
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Performance has always been an issue in my life. Having parents who are immigrants and being the first generation of my family to be born in the United States has had its challenges. Growing up, I was raised with a constant need to perform in academics and in my family. My goal was to be…
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Growing up, I often placed pressure on myself to be the most perfect version of myself I could be. Whether it was academic performance or relationships with my family or peers, I wanted my life to seem like I had everything together. I felt I could rely on my own knowledge and abilities to get…
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