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Although I do not remember this, this is where our story begins. I was born on my mom's birthday. -
My little sister was born and life as I knew it changed. I was now a big sister -
The house I spent my whole childhood in and the town where I went to public school -
My mom met a woman named Sue at church who had two daughters the same age as my sister and I and we all became best friends -
I went to Creative Playhouse two days a week in the mornings -
I attended Creative Playhouse, a private preschool out of a woman's home. I remember loving it. We would perform skits at the end of the school year and all the parents would come watch
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Started public school and met two girls who would end up my best friends to this day -
I attended Newbury Elementary School. I participated in Girl Scouts, swimming, and lots of time with friends in the neighborhood
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Our house is renovated and goes from a one story ranch to a two story house. We temporarily move to Plum Island while they work on the roof and second floor. I get my own bedroom. -
A microburst tornado came through my grandparents' summer home while we were on vacation there. It was terrifying. My mom yelled for my dad to come inside and we sat in the back bedroom against the wall with the chimney because there was no way under the house without going outside. It is still a clear memory in my mind and everytime a storm comes over the horizon there and think back to this time -
The whole family took a trip to Disney right before Christmas, my mom worked so hard to plan it and it was so much fun -
My sister and I travel as unaccompanied minors to Dallas to spend time with my uncle and his girlfriend (later she becomes my aunt) -
I attended Triton Middle School. It was a tumultuous time of my life full of self-doubt, social anxiety, and angst. I grew very close friendships during this time but it is also marked by much embarrassment and tension.
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I get braces and glasses in the same year...in middle school...I refused to wear my glasses -
Menarche begins, it was during the week of vacation bible school and the day before my family was going to visit a water park. We still went but I was very self-conscious.
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My mom, sister, and I visit DC over the April vacation. I was so excited to see all the museums and monuments there. Money was tight at the time but my mom still made it very memorable and fun. -
My uncle got married to a woman he had dated for five years. She was already so much a part of our family and they moved from Texas to Massachusetts. -
I attended Triton High School. Though not as rough as middle school, it was still quite a journey through high school. I made some really great friends and grew a lot closer with others. I started to figure out what my calling was and where I wanted my life to lead.
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My parents announce they are getting divorced and my dad moves out of the house. They had been unofficially separated for years at this point, living in the same house but not interacting much and sleeping in separate parts of the house
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My first baby cousin (not a baby anymore) was born and my sister and I were not the only grandchildren anymore. We were so excited and doted on him so much -
I got my braces taken off after a few years and I finally get contacts. Some of my self confidence returns -
For my mom's fiftieth birthday and my sixteenth birthday, we take a cruise with my sister and mom's boyfriend on the Carnival Paradise for five days. -
I was invited by a friend to attend youth group at their church, It was a major turning point in my life. I committed to faith and created deep friendships
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My next cousin was born and again we were so excited to have a new family member. I got in trouble in class for having my phone out when I was checking it to see if everything had gone alright with the birth -
This started a new era of independence for me being able to drive myself and my friends around.
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On a youth group winter retreat to Camp Berea I decide to give my life to Christ for myself. Despite being raised in church, this is when I made my faith my own -
I brought my friend Sam. We became best friends after this and it stands out in my memory as an important day. -
I decide after years of manipulation to take my sister and leave my dad's house after an argument between him and his girlfriend. My sister and I never go back and contact has been strained since
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I only applied to one school early action and I got in, so that is where I went!
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I was baptized at church alongside one of my best friends and the father of another friend. I showed my step of faith to my church community and friends
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I went with my friend Conner. We were with our friends Sam and Erin. We all slept over at Erin's house afterwards. -
I graduated high school! I hung out with friends all summer and prepared for college -
My sweet cousin was born, shortly before my 18th birthday. She lights up our life and she is my little buddy. We spend lots of time together in the summer and she always comes over to braid hair, make bracelets, or snuggle -
I attended Gordon College to get my Bachelors of Arts in History and Secondary Education.
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My mom got brain surgery and I cared for her when she came home
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My first job! I would float to different classrooms to cover breaks or vacations
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I worked as an RA for the apartment buildings on campus at Gordon. I loved it and grew close with my staff
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I went to the college counseling center to process some traumatizing news about a friend. I also had a lot of myself to unpack at the time
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I went to the college counseling center to discuss some concerning news about a close friend
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I worked under Tara and Web Saintpreux, who are still my mentors and close friends. They taught me so much and were always there to support me.
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I student taught at Ipswich Middle School in a sixth grade social studies classroom teaching geography
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I got my Bachelor's in History and Middle School Education -
I worked full time at my former summer job. I moved from floating classrooms to having a classroom full of nine toddlers. It tested me in ways I could have never imagined
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I saw a counselor weekly or biweekly. I was eventually diagnosed with generalized anxiety disorder and moderate depression which is now under control
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I intentionally took time to rest and reset. God called me to take this time and spoke to my heart to slow down and learn to listen better.
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My best friend got married and I got to be a bridesmaid! Also got to fly to Florida by myself, first time I had flown in seven years -
I worked as the Middle School Director for my church as well as the Office Administrative Assistant
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I worked in the office at church and as the day went on, the world started to shut down.
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Another one of my friends got married and had a COVID wedding, I made the cut to be invited. There was less than 50 people attending -
At first, I took classes online from home, but following semesters I commuted to class. I started my journey to become a counselor!
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I will move into a one bedroom apartment on the GCTS campus and live on my own, no roommates for the first time!