Yep, I was that girl. The one who came from the small Christian school excited about being away from mom and dad. I swore to everyone that I would never want to come home and visit. I would be independent and never call home.

(This pic is from move-in day!)

I quickly got into my groove of hard classes, lack of sleep, and way too many clubs. I went to all the football games, I hung out with friends, I found a Bible study, and I was in many leadership positions.

(This pic is from Engaging Leaders - a leadership program I was in.)

All this time I was putting on a front of happy, transitioned, and very involved, but people did not see behind that. I was homesick. SO utterly homesick. I would call my parents at least 3-4 times per day. I would come back to my dorm and cry during the weekends when I was trying to do the right thing and not go and party. I would question why I was at NC State.

It got to a point in the spring where all I wanted was out. I wanted to transfer to some small school where I could be a big fish in a small pond. Where I could be closer to home and go home every other weekend. Where I could see my sister's soccer games during the week, or sit in church with my family.

Finally, I sat down. I sat down in the hall of my small dorm suite. I grabbed some blankets and a pillow and asked God... WHY? I opened my Bible and prayed for the Words I needed to hear. I sat from 1:00 a.m. to 2:00 a.m., scouring the Bible and looking for answers. I read a Scripture that shook me. I read 2 Corinthians 4:17. I was so amazed at how I had focused on so many earthly things for satisfaction, but not heavenly things. I decided that I would make a conscious effort to focus on more things of heaven and less things on earth.

I came back in my room and looked at my small nightstand. I had written on a piece of paper taped to my desk "ONLY GOD." And that became my anthem since March.

I'm singing it out. Only God can change your life. Only God can give you peace and hope and joy and whatever you ask or imagine. At the end of the day, I sat in bed amazed. Maybe I was a tad delusional and sleep deprived at 3:00 a.m., but I know that God was working in my life.

This is my anthem. Only God.