I grew up in church and spent most of my life assuming I was a Christian. I knew the right answers, stayed involved at church, read my Bible, and looked like I had everything together on the outside. But internally, I was far from Jesus Christ. Especially during college, I made my own rules, decided what was right and wrong for myself, and lived in ways that didn’t match what I claimed to believe. My identity was completely tied to my academic performance—if I succeeded, I felt worthy; if I failed, I felt crushed. Underneath it all, I was anxious, restless, and hopeless. After graduating, God began to speak to me through the Bible. For the first time, I was confronted with that fact that I was not good, I was not enough, and that I was utterly unable to save myself. I didn't need to "try harder" to improve myself, I needed true forgiveness. On March 5, 2019, at 21 years old, I asked God to forgive my sins and save me. Since then, my life has been shaped by learning who God is through Scripture, being part of a local church community, and walking through the trials of life. Most recently, God has been teaching me his goodness through navigating struggles with mental illness - Psalm 119: 67 - 72 has strengthened, encouraged, and challenged me during this particular season. As a professor at Piedmont University, it is my desire to serve each student in a way that reflects the gospel of Jesus. My approach to teaching is shaped by His example - He came not to be served, but to serve.