Anyone who knows me, knows that I am an Army brat and proud of it! It is one of the first things I tell people when I meet them, and I think one of the most interesting things about myself. After all, my entire life story has been shaped by the people and places that the Army has sent my family to. That being said, I have lived happily in Wadsworth, IL for three years now, however the time has come for my family and I to move on to the next assignment and the next place on the map of our lives. On July 21, 2017, I will travel to Carlisle, PA, where I will reside with my family for as long as the Army allows. It could be a year, or it could be another three year assignment. Before I start my new life in Pennsylvania, I thought it only fitting to reflect on the last three years that I have spent here in Illinois and what they have meant to me.
I moved to Illinois back in 2014, just prior to the start of junior year of high school. The first thing I got involved in was high school tennis. I met my future doubles partner, Mikayla Schultz, and we ended up making the state tournament that year which did wonders for my confidence! That year was a big one for me... I began going to youth group regularly (which was new for me) as well as a small group. Getting involved in these groups made me feel connected to a very positive community and allowed me to grow closer to God, which is something I have always been seeking.
I have never been an extremely confident or outspoken person, however the friends I made during my time here have made me feel like it is ok to be my wacky, goofy self, and it is something I am so grateful for. They never judged me for being the kind of girl who likes to stay home on a Saturday night and watch 80s movies, they joined me, and what's even better is they have pushed me to get out of my comfort zone. They were right by my side when I started leading Fellowship of Christian Athletes, heck even my best friend, Ashley Krause, led the group with me for two years! They have constantly encouraged me and prayed for me, and I feel so blessed to still be quite close with most of them!
Intellectually I think I have grown immensely! I took several English classes in high school, as that was my favorite subject, but not just any English classes. I took ones that challenged me, truly challenged me. I read classics, wrote poetry, and even completed my first novel (a short novel but still). I proved to myself that I can write and that if I set my mind to something, I can accomplish it. And would you look at me now, I am an English major! Who would've thought?!
While I have adored the people most of all during my time here, the place itself hasn't been too shabby. I must admit I did not know what to expect when moving here three years ago. The only thing I associated Illinois with was the city of Chicago. While I did visit Chicago a few times, my favorite place in Illinois was my little corner of the world, Wadsworth. I adored my neighborhood, my house, and the serenity it gave me. The quiet was a constant comfort and if I wanted, or needed, to see a friend, I could cut through the woods to Ashley's neighborhood or I could drive 25 minutes to see any of my other friends. Illinois is a beautiful state full of amazing, kind, funny, witty, and intelligent people. I am so thankful for the amount of time I have gotten to spend here. Even though I am not from Illinois in the slightest, I feel I have truly grown up here. Don't worry Illinois, you haven't seen the last of Megan Waterhouse just yet...