Hey y'all!

First of all, today is Easter so I already have a lot to be excited about, but God has also presented me with this amazing opportunity so I'm over the moon at this point. Since this is my first blog post, I figured I'd go ahead and explain my journey of committing to The Race.

I first heard about the World Race sometime last fall in a conversation with my friend. I didn't think much of it after they explained that it required me to take a gap year and forgo college. But for some reason, when I got home, I decided to do some independent research and I found a website with this awesome video showing kids like me traveling the world, and most importantly, making a difference. I showed my parents and, like they always have been, were very encouraging and supported whatever decision I was gonna make.

However, like most high school seniors, I was also submitting my college applications at the time and this trip just seemed a little too far-fetched, so I laid it to rest for the time being. I applied to multiple schools and felt fairly confident that I was headed on the right path for me. With that being said, I never had officially ruled out The Race as an option, and the more I thought about it, the more I felt called to go. As I mentioned, I am blessed with a super supportive family, so I brought it up to my uncle. He explained to me that the hesitation I had of committing to The Race was not out of fear of what I'd be doing on the trip, but fear of the decision itself.

I had never made a decision this big, in terms of altering the path of my life. But once I had come to terms with this, all of that fear disappeared. It was in the moment that I let go of control, that I stopped thinking about what it was that I was "supposed" to do and I was able to realize what I was called to do.

With this experience, I hope to continue this pattern of letting go of control, and to act on faith above all else.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." - Jeremiah 29:11

-Will