ANIKA
KAUFMAN
For as long as I can remember, I've gone to church. Growing up I was involved in Sunday school, VBS, church camps, and pretty much anything else. I started off my education being homeschooled, then transferred to a private school, and finally, my sophomore year I started going to a public school. I was terrified. I had some friends going into it, but I was still the new girl. I wanted people to like me. I wanted to be cool. I wanted to fit in. So as soon as there was a group of people that wanted to be my friend, I immediately clung to them. At first I loved it. They liked me and thought I was funny. I was so excited. Sadly, as time went on, I completely lost sight of what was important. By the end of my sophomore year, I was further away from God than I had ever been before. I wasn't happy anymore. My friendships were incredibly toxic. I was always surrounded by petty drama. Someone was always mad at someone else or mad at me for no reason. I was constantly stressed, and I hated school.
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When my junior year came I honestly thought that I wasn't going to make it to graduate high school. I had friends which is what I thought I wanted, but I was more miserable than ever before. About halfway through my junior year, I realized that I needed Jesus. That thought was never as real as it was then, I needed Him in a way that wasn't just going to church. I needed a real relationship with Him. Through encouragement from my mom, I pursued God more than I ever had before. Very quickly Jesus changed my life. My old friends were not a part of my life anymore, and God put some new ones in! I finally had people who loved and supported me. I had people who encouraged me, and pushed me to love Jesus. Within the next few months, several girls from my church asked me to join a bible study. I felt so overwhelmed by the blessings God had put in my life. As my senior year came, I was actually excited about school. I had friends that I loved that I was going to spend the year with. I honestly enjoyed my senior year, and I am so thankful for the friends that God placed in my life.
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As the year came to an end, It was time for college. Once again, I was terrified. I was going to a new place that was much bigger without knowing very many people. I was scared it was going to be like my first year of high school all over again. The first few days after moving in were very busy, and I was incredibly overwhelmed. I made some friend, but it seemed like there was nobody like me. It seemed like everyone just wanted to party, and nobody was interested in Jesus. I asked God for people that would encourage me to love Him, and He for sure came through. Literally the next day I met a girl that seemed like exactly what I had asked for. She is so kind and loving and she loves Jesus. And then I met a few more wonderful, Jesus-loving friends. I was so happy. After that, more and more people have continued to show up, and I've even had the opportunity to share God's love with lots of people. I have never felt so close to God, and it's an amazing feeling. I am so thankful for my friends and family that have constantly encouraged me. But I am so so thankful for God's love and encouragement. He has moved me in so many ways and truly transformed my life, and I am so excited to keep loving and pursuing Him. God really does amazing things when you give Him your life, and I encourage everyone to reach out and trust him. :)