Just kidding!! I’m still going on The World Race, and if you are reading this confused on what The World Race is… Welcome to the party!! The World Race is a 11-month mission trip to 11 different countries where I will be serving others starting October 3rdof this year!! Currently, I am studying abroad in Brighton, England which is something that I never knew was possible. Around this time last year, I was going through the start of an identity crisis which led me to feel that I needed to leave the University that I was attending in Flagstaff, Arizona and possibly move back home to San Diego, back to comfortability. I wasn’t passionate about much during my time living in Flagstaff and the longer I was there I felt more lost and confused about who I am and who I wanted to be, left feeling stuck and uninspired.
But during this season of my identity crisis Jesus showed me that during so much confusion and no inspiration led me to applying to serve at a Young Life camp in British Columbia. Miraculously, I ended up being accepted without even finishing my application and made my way to the Seattle airport later that July to meet my fellow summer staff members from all over the country. I was living on this island for a month with no social and media and cell service where I also got to be a part of the landscaping team and got to be outside almost 24/7 to take care and maintain the beautiful property of Malibu. But my favorite part of this job were the mornings because I got to water the flowers and that’s where I spent the most times with Jesus. During these sweet moments, I felt called to make my next semester at NAU one for self-growth and feeling that I needed to start therapy.
Therapy is one of those things that can be scary, but it ended up being the greatest thing for me last semester. I got to unpack the deepest parts of my heart and face all my anxieties that have been built up from the past two years of college. But I also got to unpack the things I am truly passionate about such as art, music, travel, and serving others. This then led me to study abroad at the University of Sussex in Brighton, England and finally leaving Flagstaff, Arizona.
Looking back on this past semester, I definitely could have taken the easy route out and just move back home to run away from my problems, but staying for another semester helped me face all the fears and anxieties to prepare for the next things that are in store for me. It has challenged me in ways to step out of my comfort zone in order to become a better version of myself, a healthier version. If you were to talk to me this time last year, you were very likely to experience me having a mental breakdown about everything and anything. Therapy has taught me how to control these emotions and recognize how to unpack them, but it doesn’t mean that by going to therapy all my emotions don’t exist anymore.
So what’s the point of this? I’m not going on The World Race to run away from my problems just because I am going through an identity crisis and don’t know what I want to do with my life. I may not know what I would like to do after I graduate and that’s okay, but as of right now I want to dedicate my life to serve those in need. I’m not going on The World Race to just travel and take a bunch of pictures to make my Instagram look picture perfect. I’m going because I want to learn how imperfect I am and step out of my comfort zone in ways like never before. I hope you can continue this journey with me as I prepare for this next season and see what Jesus will continue to teach me about myself.
I would appreciate any support you are able to offer, but most importantly prayers. Prayers that my fundraising goal would be something that I can conquer and achieve in order to help others. And Prayers that I will learn how to be a true servant to others as well as stepping out of my comfort zone. If you would like to learn more about what I’m doing please feel free to reach out to me, I would love to tell you more about the incredible opportunity that I’ve been given. Thank you all for your love and support, I wouldn’t be able to do this without you.
With all my love,
Ariane
