I will be expanding FOCUS to a new campus with four others teammates at Illinois State University, serving as team director there! Roll birds.

I have been praying for months with the idea of preparation — and I love how the Lord has brought my two previous campus experiences together into a new place, just as the Gospel of John states: “Would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am.”

I also recently learned that the Latin roots for the word ‘cardinal’ means ‘hinge.’ I have no doubt this campus, with a redbird mascot, will be a turning point for many!

In college, because an older girl in my sorority befriended me, I started questioning what I was doing with my life. She said she was a Christian, and so did I, but our lives looked totally different. I focused on two things: my journalism career and my friends. Although I never would’ve admitted it, I put my identity into my reputation. Through personal friendships and people challenging me, I slowly started to question what was possible through faith, especially the Catholic faith, and what it means to be satisfied. No amount of money, impactful work projects, family or friends, (although those are good things!), were enough for me. Only by centering my life on Christ and having a personal relationship with Him, have I come to understand myself and society in a way I never thought was possible. I desire nothing more than to share the joy of Christ’s love — it changes everything.

When Jesus tells Peter to “cast his net on the other side of the boat,” the catch of fish was so big that “others had to come help him.” Similarly, when God calls someone “to be catching men,” He never calls that person by himself. He calls others to help him. By spiritually and/or financially supporting me on mission, Jesus wants to stretch your own nets toward Him, so that you too can experience the huge catch of joy He offers. I would be honored to serve alongside you and have you a part of my team.