Life Lessons Learned

Over the past 17 years, I have learned many lessons and gained a great mass of experiences. I have had the benefit of securing new friends as well as family members. Growing up, I lived in a few different homes, in a few different towns, all of which have shaped me into the person I am today. I was born into a family of 3, my mom, dad, and sister Emily, in Longview, Texas, where we were near family and friends. A short three months after I was born, my family relocated to Nacogdoches, Texas. The first house my parents bought was a spacious 80s style house about a mile outside of town. There we welcomed my first brother in 2002 and my second in 2005. My family was then complete. I came to see friendships grow. I became friends with the neighborhood

Grace Bible Church became a place of growth and learning. I learned about compassion and hope and what an unconditional love feels like. I met many lifelong friends and mentors at Grace Bible Church. Eager to be a part of the youth program at the church, we kicked off my sixth grade year by meeting our new small groups as well as our leaders. That was how I met Lacey, my mentor. Lacey was in her junior year of college. Lacey taught me how to discipline myself and how to love even if someone does not deserve it. She helped me walk through my ameature years. When I was in the seventh grade, I began to volunteer on most Sundays in the

This house was freshly built in a cul de sac in a developing neighborhood on the north side of town. We became surrounded by loving, caring neighbors, who promptly became an extension of our family. We lived in this neighborhood for five years. We were able to watch neighbors come and go and grow. A brief walk down the road lived an extraordinary family that immediately earned a place in my heart. In 2015 the Trotty's hired me to be their part time babysitter for their son Noah. An hour a week, Noah and I would play pretend, jump around the house, and watch Daniel Tiger and Sesame Street. In 2017, the Totty's welcomed their daughter Harper, and a few months later, joined me and her brother in our play time. Katy Trotty, a professor at the local nursing school, inspired me to become a nurse. She became an outstanding mentor for me as I commenced my journey as a nurse. Katy encouraged me find to schools with marvelous nursing programs, which is how I came to know and love Texas Tech University.
Despite living all of my life in the Pineywoods, my grandparents lived in West Texas, in a town a short drive east of Amarillo. Every year we made a long trek across Texas to go visit the relatives. This is how I came to love West Texas. Both of my parents grew up in this area, and taught me all about the land. My aunt went to a school near Texas Tech, and fell in love with the school. She began to describe