A new road awaits an enthusiastic traveller
I have spent a significant amount of my high school career getting involved in as many activities and extracurriculars as possible.
I learned, early on, that I would not know where my strengths lay unless I expand the breadth of things that I do and the people I know, so resultingly, but not regretfully, my mind has never been absolutely focused in only one place.
For that reason, the next two years of my life will be in stark contrast to the way I have approached the management of my time thus far.
I have chosen to serve for two years as a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
While many people know that I am LDS, or more commonly known as Mormon, they may not know exactly what that means. As a member, I believe in the gospel of Jesus Christ, in the Book of Mormon (not the Broadway musical) and all other features of the Mormon church. The profound impact that my religion has played in my life cannot be overemphasized, and it is out of a desire to share that same influence with others that I plan to serve a mission.
Mormon missionaries face an intense schedule, one that is typically full of rejection, disappointment and even isolation. Missionaries wake at 6:30 a.m. each day, and after exercising and studying scripture, spend the day proselytizing and giving service.
They and one other missionary companion knock on doors in the recognizable practice of tracting and make appointments to teach and serve those considering the church. As missionaries are asked to dedicate themselves as entirely as possible to service during the time of their mission, they are permitted two phone calls home per year, once on Christmas and once on Mother’s Day, and a short window of time each week to send letters and email to family and friends.
From my conversations with friends who have served and are serving missions, despite the struggle of convincing strangers to listen to the message of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, serving a mission is far from unrewarding.
I am incredibly grateful for the last four years of my education and especially for the people who have influenced me, and I hope that those people will keep in contact as we move to larger things in our lives.
It is with eager anticipation and a little bit of nervousness that I being this tremendously worthwhile phase of my life.