I came to the U.S. from China in 1997 to pursue my Ph.D. Looking back, I realize now that the real reason behind that decision wasn’t just academic—it was the deep unrest in my heart and the big questions I carried about life’s purpose. I tried to find answers in philosophy and religious books, but none of them gave me what I was searching for. Somehow, I thought maybe I would find the answer in America. What I didn’t realize at the time was that God was already pursuing me, even though I wasn’t seeking Him. I remember the first time I opened the Bible—I thought it read like a fairy tale, something that had nothing to do with my life. But on August 28, 1997, I went to a talk by a Chinese pastor titled, “Is the Bible a Fairy Tale?” That night, the Holy Spirit opened my eyes. I suddenly realized the Bible isn’t just a story—it’s God’s word. The pastor went on to explain something from the Bible that moved me—that even though I had broken God’s standards, He still loved me. And through Jesus’ death on the cross, I could be completely forgiven and enter into a real, personal relationship with God by simply trusting in what Jesus had already done for me. That night, I trusted Jesus as my Savior and began an eternal journey with the Creator of the universe—who is also my loving Father in heaven. Becoming a faculty member felt intimidating to me. I didn’t feel competent—I wasn’t a native English speaker, I didn’t write well, and I’m naturally introverted, so connecting with strangers wasn’t easy. But God led me into academia because He was already working among Chinese students at USF. I remember praying, “God, I can’t do this—but I will obey. You will have to sustain me in this academic environment.” There was a time I compared myself to other faculty in my department and fell into deep discouragement. In prayer, I told God, “I’m not good enough—I don’t have what others have.” And in that moment, a still, small voice spoke to my heart: “But you have Me.” I was overwhelmed by His presence. I was reminded that while I can do nothing apart from Him, I can do all things through Him who strengthens me.