FOCUS

I first encountered FOCUS as a freshman in college and was immediately captivated. Coming out of high school, I wanted to find a like-minded community that was oriented towards Christ. I wanted a community that would aid my growth and deepen my relationship with the Lord. FOCUS was just the thing for me. Committing to weekly bible study, discipleship, and many different monthly events, I found my community! I found people who taught me what it means to live authentically and abundantly, even amid the chaos of college life. These adventures I’ve had through FOCUS have given me skills that will last a lifetime– and have drawn me even closer to the Lord’s heart. Now, I am determined to give more college students the experience that I had.

The Lord began writing my story in Sugar Land, Texas where I️ was born to a wonderful family. They made it clear that faith was and should always be a part of my life, but it wasn’t until college until I️ understood what it meant to be a true disciple of Jesus, in a deep relationship with Him.

Going into college, I️ quickly bought into the exciting things around me, placing my identity in my campus involvement, sorority life, and academic success. While I️ claimed faith remained a priority, I️ was so focused on other accomplishments that I️ neglected to truly live a Christian life. I️ poured into fleeting pleasures of the world and quickly became isolated and lonely, searching for something to fill the void in my heart.

My freshman year at Texas A&M, I️ was encountered by a student who showed me what it meant to live fully. I️ was invited into a community of women who lived in a way I️ had never seen before; they appeared fully alive, joyful, and vibrant. I️ was drawn to them. I️ wanted to be like them. As we grew in friendship, I was invited to St. Mary’s Catholic Center where I️ discovered the beauty and love of Jesus Christ in the Eucharist. I️ then fell in love with Jesus in a new way as I️ devoted myself to the sacraments and daily prayer. I️ later learned this void I️ was desperate to fill could only be filled by the infinite love of God and not by the finite pleasures of the world. The Lord placed these women in my life to accompany me in my journey, teaching me that I️ am made good and that I️ am a beautiful daughter of Jesus Christ. This same year I️ met Henry who continued to show me the love of Christ each day. Throughout our time together in college, we experienced the Lord’s grace through the Sacraments, continued to grow in virtue, and found great joy in mission through leading bible studies and discipleship. Fast forward to now, we are engaged, getting married at the end of July of 2025, and will be FOCUS missionaries together.

I grew up in Mobile, Alabama, in a culturally Catholic setting, but with few personal examples of a vibrant faith. Growing up, I sensed a deep longing for purpose—but I didn’t know where to turn to find it. During the COVID-19 pandemic, I began exploring faith through Scripture and online sermons. That season drew me closer to Christ, but without strong spiritual mentorship, my foundation faded when I entered college.

At the University of Alabama, I pursued degrees in Management Information Systems and Management, with a concentration in Entrepreneurship. Though I joined Bama Catholic, I found it difficult to be vulnerable and spiritually honest, and over time I drifted away from my faith and the Catholic community. After reaching a personal low point, I began to ask deeper questions and sought to understand what was really true about God, faith, and the world. In that space of honest searching, I encountered Jesus in a real and personal way. Slowly, He began to heal and transform my heart.

That renewal led me not only to join a FOCUS Bible study—but eventually to lead one for senior college women, walking with them through deep suffering and profound questions of faith. In those moments, I realized that God was using me as a spiritual mentor I had longed for in high school. Now, I see that God has never stopped calling me into ministry—He’s simply been preparing me.

As a missionary, my greatest desire is to lead all students to Christ. My life has been transformed by Jesus, and I want nothing more than to bring this joy to others and introduce them to the life-changing message of the Gospel. I remember when I was a sophomore in college, I was really struggling with what to put my identity in. Would it be in who I was as a student? A fraternity brother? A good sibling? Right around that time, one of my friends from the Newman center asked me if I wanted to strive to live a life that was centered around Christ, and he showed me where I could truly find my identity as a son of God. Since then, I have seen God slowly working in my life to heal me and to draw me in closer to Himself, and now I want to give the same opportunity to those around me.

I was born and raised in my wonderfully large Catholic family in Arlington, Texas. My family enriched my upbringing with formation in the moral life, Catholic social teaching, and displaying sacrificial love. I was blessed to attend twelve years of Catholic education. However, my time at Texas A&M University played a pivotal role in deepening my relationship with Jesus Christ.

I spent much of my formative years chasing the affirmation of my peers. I was looking in all of the wrong places to know that I belonged, to know that I was good, and to know that I was loved. Buying into the lies that society was selling me led me into some dark places of sin and brokenness. I never gave up my belief in God or the Catholic faith, but I knew something was missing in my life.

Praise God for my time at Texas A&M University! I took a chance by attending the incoming freshman retreat at the local Catholic parish, St. Mary’s. Little did I know, but God had me right where I needed to be. On the retreat, I saw hundreds of young adults my age living with a joy that I so desperately longed for. I knew I had to find what they had—a relationship with Jesus Christ. A few months later, I deeply encountered the love of Jesus at a SEEK conference put on by FOCUS. In the springtime of my freshman year, I finally committed to making Christ the center of my life. I prioritized daily prayer, frequent reception of the Sacraments, especially confession, and joined a FOCUS Bible study and discipleship group.

I intentionally spent my college years growing in my relationship with Christ. I have experienced more joy, fulfillment, and fruit than I ever could have imagined! The radical love of God is so great that I could not keep it to myself. I led a FOCUS Bible study for over two years and walked with five of those men in discipleship. Even though I have graduated, three of those men now lead Bible studies of their own, spiritually multiplying faithful disciples of Christ.

My life and many others were transformed by Christ living in the Texas A&M FOCUS community. Now, my fiancée and I have committed our next years to being a full-time FOCUS missionary to continue what God began in us at Texas A&M!