I just read Brooke Simpson's article, "When Life Gets Hard, Do This", and I began to think about all of the tough situations I have gone through in my life. Brook's article is about how God works in ways we don't understand, and we don't necessarily understand everything that happens. Eventually, as events unfold, and we mature and move through life, we are able to look back and see that everything that happened, both good and bad, has led us to where we are now. We should be thankful.

I originally had my heart set on attending Union University with one of my best friends from high school, but after competing for scholarships, I didn't end up receiving enough to go. The next day, a recruiter from Freed-Hardeman University came to my high school and told us all about Freed's financial aid that was based on ACT score. With my ACT score, I was able to attend without having to go hundreds of thousands of dollars in debt. I thought my future was at Union, but God had other plans.

My first semester at Freed, I was smothered by Church of Christ-iness. I did not grow up in the Church of Christ, and it was a bit much for me: chapel every day, pressure to attend church every time the doors were open and judgment if you didn't, etc. I intended to stay until Christmas, and then transfer to a cheaper school where I could even get paid to go. However, God had other plans. I met some great friends that year and even a pretty special dude who helped bring my faith to a more satisfactory level. I was baptized on October 26, 2014, and have learned so much. I enjoyed my classes, met teachers who care about me, and now, three-and-a-half years later, I am about to graduate from this school. I might not have enjoyed every minute of my experience here, but I am so glad that God sent me here instead of Union.

I have learned to reflect on past experiences and appreciate the journey that I have gone through to get where I am now. Graduation will bring another journey, but as Brooke says in her article, "Further along we'll know all about it. Further along we'll understand why... we'll understand it all by and by."