My freshman year 2015 - so many opportunities I could’ve embarked on slipped right through my grasp - the possibility of establishing friendships for years to come, getting involved in organizations and clubs, confiding in academic advisors to help me come to a consensus of what I wanted to do in life. Just so many things that could’ve come to be, but I didn’t allow myself the opportunity to pursue them. All that time wasted.

I was so caught up in my insecurities, thinking that maybe I bit off more than I could chew. Was I really ready for college? Was I ready to come to terms with the reality of adulthood fast approaching? What was my purpose? It was all too much for me to bear that I just let my thoughts overwhelm me and cloud my judgment.

I spent many nights wide awake because my thoughts were consuming my very existence. My thoughts consisted of doubt, worry, negativity, depression, anxiety, etc. I did more thinking than I did speaking.

My thoughts were just always going, always reminding me of my insecurities. I just wanted them to be quiet, but they just kept telling me more and more about how inadequate I was.

Fast forward to fall semester of junior year, and nothing had changed. I had no motivation to excel in school anymore. I just wanted to give up. I confided in family and friends who reminded me of my gift. It seems the issue was never hoping that others would notice my worth, but acknowledging MYSELF that I had worth. I got tired of feeling this way, thinking I could never amount to anything.

But let me tell ya, God works in miraculous ways!

The more I felt like giving up, the more he kept telling me to confront my demons. Every time I doubted myself on something, he would open a new door for me to step through. God never gave up on me even when I felt like all odds were against me. I began capturing all my toxic and negative thoughts and submitting them to him so that he could fill me up with peace, love, and confidence.

“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” I’m sure we’ve all heard this verse so many times, but where’s the lie in it?? When you trust God and allow for him to direct your path in life, anything seems possible. Those can’ts turn into cans, and those won’ts turn into wills. You start growing more confident, and God’s plan for your life starts coming to fruition. He reminds you time and time again that you were created for a reason. Step out on faith and turn those weaknesses into strength!

My final words of advice: don’t hold back on exceeding your full potential because of fear, lack of confidence or doubt. You can never know the full capacity of what you can accomplish if you don’t take advantage of every opportunity that comes your way.