What is Young Life? Many people ask me this when I tell them I am a part of it. Young Life is a crazy awesome outreach ministry that goes into schools to reach those who might not otherwise hear about Jesus and his love. In high school many people see Young Life as a place to go and hang out with your friends, and it has somewhat of a reputation for being full of hypocrites, forgetting that many of the people attending are not Christians or raised in Christian homes.

For me, Young Life was and is so much more. It changed how I saw myself, ultimately saving my life.

When I was starting high school as a freshman six years ago, I had no clue what Young Life was or how much of an impact it would have on my life. My dad got involved as a leader, so I didn't really have a choice to as well. I am glad I did. Six years later, I am still very involved.

It all goes back to the summer after ninth grade. I went to week long Young Life camp at the Crooked Creek campus in Fraser, Colorado. It took three days to get there, six days there and two days back. Eleven days that created experiences I will probably never get the chance to have again. I went to Six Flags for the first time, I saw my fist MLB game, I stayed in my first fancy hotel, I hiked my first mountain, I lived life.

But I was not necessarily happy. On the outside I seemed to have it all together, but I was falling apart on the inside. I was drinking more water, cutting back on soda and other sugary drinks. I had lost twenty pounds and everyone had noticed. What they had not noticed was that I was not really eating. I was a 15-year-old with anorexia. I had very bad low self esteem issue and I had done a pretty good job at hiding it. I would cry myself to sleep the majority of the week, at least four or five times. I struggled with the fact that I had stretch marks since the sixth grade. I was trapped.

But that eleven days, that week in Colorado, it changed my view of myself. I made friends that liked me for who I was, not who I tried to be. I had leaders that genuinely wanted to get to know me, that wanted to be there for me, no matter what was going on around us. I felt love from people who had no blood-obligation to do so. I finally understood what Young Life was really about.

If it had not been for that week and the people that I met and got to know better, I might still be anorexic. I might be fighting for my life. I am now in such a better place in my life. I am so invested in the success of Young Life. I want to become a leader. I want to cause something this spectacular and life changing in other people. I have been so blessed to have amazing female role models in my life through this organization. So thank you! Thank you to Corey Shaffer. Thank you to Hannah Steele, who sat and listened to me that week in Colorado. Thank you to Hef Turner. Thank you to Rachel Stewart. Thank you to Emily Sewell. Thank you to Kate McGinnis.

Thank you to Young Life, I wouldn't be the same without you.