Hello, hello! Like the title of this (my very first World Race) blog, it’s just delightful to meet you! I want to start off by saying thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day (after all, it is almost Christmas and those cookies aren’t going to bake themselves!) to read this blog. This is the beginning of an amazing journey and I want to take you on it with me, but I think knowing a bit more about me would be a great way to start off this virtual relationship.
For starters I’ll give you a little background on myself. I’m originally from Phoenix, AZ but you’ll see that where I hail from now is Anderson, IN. I’ve been living in the great land of soy and corn for about five years now, but I grew up a desert dweller and still identify a not-so-prickly cactus (although my legs certainly will be throughout the duration of the race!) from the home of the Grand Canyon.
I attended Anderson University as what I like to call “A Super Duper Legacy Student”, which basically means that not only did my parents and siblings attend, but so did my aunts and uncles, cousins, and even my grandparents! After two and a half years of studying Global Business with minors in Writing and Spanish, I decided that this was not the best path for me.
I had grown up wanting to be an actress, then a fashion designer, next was a stylist because sewing was quite difficult, and finally I landed on writer. I began writing poetry when I was a freshman in college, then I landed an internship for an Indy fashion magazine (Pattern Magazine) when I was a sophomore writing articles on everything from music to fashion to events, and by second semester that year I was in a creative writing course. I was beginning to feel like I was really doing what I always felt like I should have been, but I was still studying business aaaannnndddd accounting was metaphorically killing me. Not to be dramatic or anything…
So I took a semester off and decided to work on my various creative outlets. I found myself writing short stories, modeling for different freelance photographers and designers, and my interest for videography and photography began to grow immensely. I’ll link you to my personal blog and instagram at the end of this blog if you want to check those out as well, I’ll have extended versions of my WR writing and other types of blogs on my personal site, and my instagram will be filled with photos from the trip and other things that make me happy or feel confident, like my cat! I also have an adorable black cat named Snoop Catt; however, my dad is giving her an identity crisis and refers to her at Snapchat or Snap Cat, she’ll be ‘okay’ though. I hope. You are welcome to pray for that as well, it would be much appreciated!
Anyways, I still have a fascination for Spanish (and yes I know this may have not been the right route to get language experience, but it is the right route for personal and spiritual growth for me) as I do continue to practice the language in my free time. Writing is becoming a much larger part of my life now, as I am running a personal blog as well as this one, poetry, working on novels of all sorts, and even developing an interest in children’s literature. Business does still interest me, but I have so many passions that I believe it would be best for me to focus on the things that bring me the most joy at this time in my life. I may return to business ventures in the future, but for now my attention is devoted to servanthood, travel, writing, creativity, and God.
I’m not entirely sure of what is to come at the end of the WR. I may be moving to New York to finish my degree at The New School (you’ll find more out about that in the next blog!) or I may be returning to Anderson University to finish my degree since they have recently added a concentration in Journalism. Nothing is for certain and things can move or change awfully fast, so for now I am going with the flow and the plan that God has for me. He is the one opening the doors and I’m the one walking through them; so we’ll just have to see what else He has in store for me!
I hope that this blog gives you a little insight to who I am and that it gets you excited for what else I’ll be sharing with you over the course of this year.
So to end this first blog, I sit in front of a glowing screen, writing to you, asking for your prayer and support throughout this journey of mine and this squad. I don’t know exactly what will happen in my future, but I do know that I’m so happy to have you join me. If each photo or video I send your way gives you joy, and that every word I type brightens your day, I’ll be the happiest bug traveling this great big world.
Thank you, and I hope you return to this little corner of the internet again,
Candace
Personal Blog: https://cactiscandace.com/ (not much is up yet!)
Instagram: @cactiscandy
