Who am I?

I have stared at this blank screen for over 15 minutes. Telling others about myself is a harder task than I thought. Well here goes…

Angela: “messenger of God”. This is what I hope to become through the race: one who can discern the Spirit clearly and boldy encourage those around her.

I hail from the great state of Texas where apparently everything is bigger and better. I am the daughter of a bold mother who has always been real and honest with me and a carefree father who gave me his sense of humor and confidence. I have a thoughtful older brother and a selfless little sister.

I grew up in Allen, north of Dallas. I had a great group of girl friends from 8th grade through graduation and was super involved in my youth group at FBC Allen. 

Thinking back to my high school days the Lord taught me two main things:
1. I cannot say whatever is on my mind for my words/actions affect those around me. Luckily I had patient friends who loved me through dealing with this realization.
2. I am only complete and can only find joy when I allow God to consume all of me, when he is number one and nothing comes before Him. I’m sure many girls can relate–at 16 when my boyfriend and I ended things I felt lost and realized that I had only seen a minuscule glimpse of God. I am not close to seeing all that the Lord is and I think a joy in life is that He will always be too magnificent to ever fully understand or comprehend.

I graduated from Allen High in 2007 (with 1200 people!) and went to Hardin Simmons University (with 2600 people) in Abilene, three hours west of Dallas. I was a double major in psychology and sociology and loved learning about people individually and in groups. I thought I wanted to go into counseling, but now I have no idea what my future holds. I could not have dreamed of a better college experience! I had great friends! I was blessed to find my best friend, accountability partner, and future roommate within the first month! Krisi introduced me to the race, and for her I am so grateful!

I was the middle school intern and super involved in the college ministry at Pioneer Drive Baptist Church. I saw and was a part of what community and living life together looks like. At Pioneer I gained so many friendships and developed my own personal faith, figuring out and solidifying what I believe for myself.

When it came time to pledge a sorority, 19 girls and I  made a plan to revive a sorority with one member who was about to graduate. I never saw myself as the sorority-type, much less the president of a sorority, but at HSU they are called social clubs meaning they are quite small, and drama-free. I learned so much about leadership and sisterhood through Alpha Iota Omega.

The summer after freshman year I worked as a counselor at a special needs camp in New Jersey. In high school I had the chance to interact with kids with special needs but was never challenged by caring for them 24/7 until camp. That summer ignited my love for travel because I had the chance to be far from home and gained many friends from all over the world. 

So, when I heard about an opportunity to work in another state, talk to thousands of families, be challenged, develop my communication skills, and earn some cash I had to go for it. I worked with the Southwestern Company in Ohio selling educational materials to families in their homes. I continued the next summer and worked in Florida. I never saw myself selling anything and don’t forsee a future in sales. My book-selling summer job is the craziest thing I have ever done, but it has brought me so much growth and development. Through working 80 hours a week, dealing with rejection, and being on my own I was forced to reach out to the Lord for physical, mental, and emotional strength. I have realized the type of mom and wife I one day hope to be and have experienced prayerful expectancy and constant communication with the Lord.

When I graduated from HSU in December 2010, I knew my next step was to full-time recruit with Southwestern. I feel that the Lord has blessed me with the ability to be a great leader and I knew that SW is the best route to further develop those skills. I recruited at Texas A&M and sold in Indiana this past summer. I am now recruiting at Louisiana State and love Baton Rouge!

This past fall I had the AMAZING opportunity to backpack Europe with my dear friend Lauren. We have been friends since 4th grade and through college and after the Lord has blessed our friendship by bringing us even closer. We traveled to Ireland, Scotland, England, France, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, and Czech Republic in just under a month. Check out our travel blog and our video. It was the greatest trip I have ever been on! I learned so much about myself and realized that I still have so much growing to do.

When I got back I knew I HAD to travel more, but that I wanted to do it differently. That’s when the race came flooding back to me.

I remember sitting in Krisi’s dorm room sophomore year as she prayerfully contemplated going. I thought she was crazy to give up life here with her family and friends to go who-knows-where to do who-knows-what! I was also slightly intrigued. At that time I hadn’t yet caught the travel bug and I hadn’t developed the confidence to see myself giving up my comfortable life here.

Seeing the world changes your perspective. When I got back from Europe I knew that I HAD to travel with a purpose, a sort of intentional travel. Traveling to see things and gain experience is great, but I desire to help others and become immersed in the cultures I experience while my eyes are opened to this immense world God has created. 

It’s funny how God waits to give us what we one day want when we are ready and He has prepared us for it. 

The World Race is my next challenge and I am READY!