No Life Experience

In the past six months, I have been told several times that I “don’t have enough life experience.” Every time I am very frustrated by that statement every time I hear it. When that is said it makes you feel boring and about an inch tall. I want to somehow prove them wrong for myself. So, I compiled a list of what I feel that I have accomplished in my 25 years.

This is in no way to be boastful or to brag. It is just for me. After all, our experiences shape us into the people we become. Not all are accomplishments. Some are simply just experiences.

It was really fun to write this and to think about what life has brought my way over the course of 25 years. Of course, I am forgetting things. I could go on and on, but it was really cool just to sit and reflect. Try it!

In my 25 years, I have:

·         Sang a song on the radio with my family

·         Had heart surgery

·         Moved 5 times totaling 3 states lived in  (Louisiana, Nebraska, Iowa)

·         Participated on a puppet team for 7 years

·         Read through the bible, cover to cover, 4 times

·         Memorized an entire book of the bible (James …for a missions trip)

·         Attended taekwondo nationals twice winning a silver medal (lost the gold by ½ a point)

·         Torn both ACL’s and returned to competitive sports ahead of schedule

·         Have stopped breathing during a surgery or in post op

·         Have officially had seven concussions…and still walking and talking as normal

·         Won 41 medals from taekwondo competitions

·         Played soccer from age 4-20

·         Attended the best soccer camp in America (Texas A&M) and was on the A squad

·         Graduated high school at age 17

·         Graduated college at age 20

·         Completed a masters degree at age 21

·         Have best friends in three countries outside of the USA

·         Met Drew Brees

·         Was officially third in my graduate class with a 3.82/4.00 GPA

·         Made the dean’s list every term of college and grad school

·         Finished with an 8.4/10 on a German language competency test while in college

·         Spent a few weeks in Sierra Leone, West Africa

·         Got bite by a spider while there and had to get my ankle drained while there

·         Spent time in Mainz, Germany with dear friends

·         Saw Abby Wambach play in person

·         Spent an entire summer in India with the most amazing people on the planet

·         While in India, spent time in a leper Colony and Orphanage

·         Played soccer on four continents

·         Learned to play the guitar

·         Once ate a whole box of strawberry ice cream in one sitting while in India

·         Stayed awake for 40 hours straight…not recommended

·         Played basketball, volleyball, softball, taekwondo, soccer, track, and lacrosse at some point in my life.

·         Danced in show choir for four years

·         Shattered my toe while playing dorm soccer

·         Sang in a children’s choir for 6 years (I think)

·         Toured to Texas with said children’s choir above

·         Experienced heat that exceeded 120 degrees Fahrenheit

·         Experienced cold that fell below -30 degrees without the wind chill

·         Had a Disney movie marathon…16 movies in a row. Try it...not an easy task.

·         Went on the giant swing over the royal gorge

·         Sat with my grandmother and held her hand as she went to heaven

·         Once had a fish freeze to death popsicle style in an ice storm when the power went out

·         I was a director of two departments at a YMCA at age 21

·         Had braces

·         Had my heart broken

·         Became an aunt…best job EVER!

·         Finally got my own dog! Then another found me!

·         Witnessed a miracle

·         Bought my own car

·         Drove all night from Louisiana to Iowa to surprise my mother for Christmas