Year in the South

Biola Essay Question

        I became a christian when I was really little. The summer before eighth grade I rededicated my life. That summer I went to Hume lake Summer Camp. That whole week led up to the Thursday night service. That night God really put it on my heart to re dedicate my life. In seventh Grade I had picked up a bunch of habits that weren’t really me. When I entered Junior High I there was some peer pressure that I had given into that I didn't really want to. I figured that this was a good time to rededicate my life. This was one of the best decisions of my entire life. When I got back from camp, I didn't just have a 'camp high'. When I got back from Hume Lake I still really wanted to break the bad habits that I had. And when I went back to school that next year, everything had changed. The summer before Eighth Grade, is when I would say I really found my foundation in Christ. In Eighth Grade, I really got involved with Campus Life. Campus Life is one of the coolest things that I got involved in. Throughout Junior High and High School, Campus Life is the one place I could go to when I needed somewhere to go and just be myself. I didn't have to impress anyone. I met some of the coolest mentors there. Another huge event in my life, was in Junior year of High School. I had got myself into a some trouble. After a long discussion with my mom I realized that I wanted to live for Jesus. I realized that I was done doing it by myself and that I wanted to live for Jesus for the rest of my life. The summer after Junior Year,  I did a month long summer program at my church. Here, I would say that God really transformed my life. It was here that I really formed a love for God and what he has done for me. One verse that I really like that guides my faith is John 5:30, “By myself I can do nothing.”  I really admire this verse because it really explains my relationship with Christ. How Without God, by myself, I can do nothing. As a person I'm worth nothing, but with God I'm capable of everything. Which brings me to another verse, Philippians 4:13, “I can do all things with Christ who gives me strength.” This is one if my life verses because with God I can do anything. Without God I can do nothing. God is all powerful and with him on my side, nothing or nobody can stop me.

        Over the past three years I have grown immensely in Jesus Christ. Three years ago, Junior year, I did a Summer Camp/Discipleship training class with my church for a month. It was a four weeks of teaching us how to study the bible, two of those weeks were doing Breakaway prep, our Vacation Bible School, and the other two weeks were working at Breakaway. This was super cool because I got to spend a whole month around peers that believed and acted like me. I also got to hang out with the High School youth Pastors. This summer I got really close with the associate High School Pastor, Gilbert. He had just started a business on the side, raising support for fighting Sex Trafficking, called Modern Abolition. He invited me to help out and it was so much fun. I still continue to help him out on my free time. Gilbert was a key person and mentor throughout the last part of High School and still is a huge part of my life today. He has helped me out so much grow in these past three years. Senior Year was a huge year in growth for me in my life. Before Senior year I was involved in my church but was never connected or held accountable. Senior Year I figured I should get connected.  So I decided to get involved with Student Leadership. This was one of the best thing I could do. Student Leadership forced me to break out of my comfort zone and get connected with other High Schoolers. This got me some of my best friends that I have today. I grew so much doing this summer because I was always around good quality people. As Senior Year went on, I figured out that Since I had no clue what I wanted to do as my career I should go to a bible school. I realized that going to a bible school would give me a year to figure out what I wanted to do and what I wanted to major in. I had heard a lot of great thing about the Torchbearer school in Germany Called Bodenseehof. I figured I would apply and if I didn't get accepted then that is God closing that door. Well  applied and I got accepted so I decided to go to Bodenseehof for my first year out of High School. The next event that I spiritually grew in was the summer after Senior Year. That summer I decided to do a summer internship at my church. It was so much fun. I grew so much throughout this summer. Probably one of the best summers of my life. During that summer God spoke to me so many times. One of the Times that I really distinctly remember is was when at the end of the summer when our church had a trip week long trip and it ended with going to Six Flags Magic Mountain. We went to the theme park and after we had a little recap of that week on the lawn outside. The speaker from that week was talking about how when we go home our home life might be a little rocky. I knew that when I go home everything was going to be normal. So I kind of zoned out a little bit, and all of the sudden I heard God tell me that what the speaker's career was is what He wanted me to do. It was one of the most clearest times that I heard God speak to me. It turned out that the speaker was a Youth Pastor. Another time that I grew in my spiritual life is where I am right now, Bodenseehof Bible School. I have grown so much while I have been here. It's amazing. The atmosphere and community is great. I'm surrounded by amazing christian people 24/7. I've learned so much and grown so much while I've been here! These past three years I have grown so much in my walk and growth with God.