Courage Amidst Cancer and Career Pursuit

Carden.Session 1. Journal

About four and a half years ago, while I was attending Branford Hall Career Institute to obtain my paralegal certification, I went for a routine mammogram and they found a spot. It was nothing abnormal to me because I had had dense breast tissue for years and had always had to go the extra step of an ultrasound. When that came back with a spot also, I was sent for a biopsy. I was in between classes when the doctor called and told me the biopsy was cancerous.

I took it head on and planned to finish my classwork and then have a double mastectomy with reconstruction two days afterward. I then, without missing a beat and three months to the day after surgery, started my externship to finish my degree and have been employed

I went out into the paralegal field only to find that while I love my work, something was still amiss. It was almost as if my cancer had never happened because I had treated it as just a speed bump in my life.

It was only a few months ago when I had the realization that I am a survivor. I had survived breast cancer. This was such a very vivid realization that it hit me like a brick and made me break down in tears because I had treated it so lightly. At this point, as I thanked

God, I asked Him what He wanted me to do next. As I prayed, the Colorado Christian

University (CCU) advertisement came on the radio. That was it. I had spoken with them last year and had not acted on it. Now here it was. Me listening to the radio while asking Him for help. That moment was the catalyst to my decision to attend CCU. The realization of the fact that I am a survivor and can, with the Lord’s guidance, successfully do whatever He has planned for me to do will be my influence for all my days at CCU.

Through this whole process of self realization, I have turned to God to help guide me in my decisions. I have relied on Him to give me the courage to pursue my goals even though

If this were the case, where does faith fit in?

Proverbs 16:9 (English Standard Version) states: “The heart of man plans his way, but the Lord establishes his steps.”

The Lord has guided me to step out in complete faith in my journey at CCU to get my degree and be able expand my horizons, knowing full well that it will not be easy financially or supportively. I am relying on His influence on my heart and I am planning on being successful, keeping a high grade point average, and getting my degree through that same faith that I am stepping out with. Believing that this is what the Lord has planned for me to do makes it the wise decision and it will be my drive throughout my time at CCU. After reflection and prayer I feel that this is what I am supposed to be doing. So I do not believe that the wise thing to do can necessarily be geared by you current circumstances as much as your faith. If that were the case, then I would not be enrolled at CCU and typing this assignment. I truly believe that