2018 Recap

I know it's almost the end of the first month of the year, but I wanted to reflect about how 2018 went and all the amazing things God did in my life! Also.. what a perfect way to post photos that didn't make the previous blog posts am I right??

January

God was sooo faithful to me during the month of January as I studied relentlessly for my MCAT (for those who don't know, it's the Medical College Admissions Test... nbd). The day we got back from our NYC trip in Dec. 2017 (post coming soon), I studied all throughout Christmas break. Fun fact: I was supposed to take my MCAT in August 2017, but postponed my exam because I had so much anxiety, stress, and honestly I didn't feel prepared. This time around I had so much peace studying and wasn't worried as much for it because I knew that it was all in God's hands and that He was guiding me through it all. To be honest, my score didn't change during the four practice tests, but I had faith that it was going to improve by the time of my exam. 

I began my last semester of my senior year of college with excitement and nervous for the future as usual. What was I going to do during my gap year? Will I be able to raise my GPA up? Sooo many questions ran through my mind. 

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FEBRUARY - MARCH 

February and March just involved lots of schoolwork, bonding with friends, exploring and taking in Austin during my final semester! I started fundraising for the Honduras medical mission trip with CompassionLink in June. I was so excited to start fundraising because I wanted to test God in the aspect of finances. I saw Him provide for my friends during the missions trips and I was excited to see Him do it for me too! I created a GoFundMe, continuously posted on FB and even sold shirts through Fund the Nations!

The beginning of February, I started treatment for my acne, something I've struggled with since I was in 8th grade and trust me when they tell you it gets worse before it gets better. I remember during March how my skin was SO bad that I just faked a smile and wore my hair down, but I really had to summon up what God says about how He looks inside of a person's heart than what's on the outside (1 Samuel 16:7) because it was rough.

I received my MCAT score in February and it improved by 9 points y'all. Our MCAT teachers told us it normally goes up on average by 6-7 points from your practice tests, but I was sooo shocked when I checked my score that I was literally moved to tears. I remember receiving my MCAT score during Physiology discussion and I couldn't focus after I saw it. God is soo faithful and I really believed He helped me throughout that exam because without His help, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have improved by that much, seriously. 

April

April I took my senior pics and the reality of graduation was becoming closer as I counted down the days of when I was finally down with my undergraduate career!! I took my senior pictures around campus and Austin which made it even more real and exciting, but sooo scary at the time. 

I ran the Longhorn 5k with my sister and my cousin (even though we signed up for the 10k and stood in the wrong area). God really gave me the strength to finish that because let's be real.. I didn't prepare for it as well as I should have. Maybe it was a blessing that we ended up running with the 5k anyway?? Hahah. 

April involved lasts and first of everything... last small group, last round of exams and first time going to Round Rock donuts! 

I also had the privilege of attending the Adolescent Health Initiative Youth Conference with the clinic I volunteered/interned for!! That was such a blessing from the Lord because you had to apply and had to be chosen. I was soo excited to go and had a chance to not only attend, but also present with People's Community Clinic adolescent team along with the Adolescent Health Initiative Teen Advisory Council. I had a chance to explore Ann Arbor and Ypsilanti, Michigan which was beautiful (& cold). 

mAY 

This was a crazy month. Truly. Throughout the semester, I watched God continue to provide over and over again for me as I fundraised for my trip. With His provision, I was able to raise over $1,200 for my trip!!! Like I said, God is so faithful and such a giving God. I felt so grateful and so loved by those around me especially those who donated and prayed for me to help make my Honduras trip possible. 

​May involved lots of banquets and end-of-the-year celebrations as I said goodbye to some of my best friends and organizations I have spent much of my time involved in college.

Obviously May involved GRADUATION!!!! Graduating from UT was definitely one of the top favorite moments of the year and of my life so far. It was just such an exciting and happy moment. I was surrounded by my friends and my family and it was just an amazing time because we were able to celebrate my accomplishments during the past four years. 

JUNe - JULY 

These past two months in 2018 involved lots of traveling! From Honduras to the Philippines, I was blessed enough to see some of the most beautiful parts of the world and meet some beautiful people with it. I had a chance to see God move in Honduras and how it opened my eyes to how He can use someone like me to serve His people and all I had to do was say yes. In the Philippines, I had an amazing time with my family and was able to reunite with my old friends! God really opened my eyes during that time to how much He loves me and how He loves everyone from all tongues, nations, and tribes and how it is so easy to feel His presence wherever you are in the world.

August - September

August and September wasn't as eventful as the past couple of months to be honest. I officially moved back home and was adjusting to life post-college. I had a job lined up that turned out wasn't really what I was looking for, so I was on the job hunt. I was worried that I wasn't going to find anything, but I knew I just had to trust Him to open doors for me whatever it looked like. Since I was mostly home and job hunting during these two months, I ended up going to the gym habitually and even attempted to cook for the fam.

God really taught me the beauty of friendships as I learned how to juggle making new friends and cultivating my old friendships. I cured my baby fever since I started volunteering at my church's nursery and kids church. They are all so precious, I can't deal. Living back at home has really opened my eyes to how much I missed my family and how I truly appreciate my parents. At 17, I was so ready to get out of the house and be independent, but after four years, it was so nice to just be able to spend time with them and help in any way I can.

October - November - December

In October, I received a job interview to become a front office assistant at PCP's private clinic so I have been working there since! I am learning so much and I was so grateful that God opened this door to me because I am definitely looking at healthcare and medicine in a new perspective than I was before. These past couple of months have just been a season of waiting for me. Just waiting on God and trusting whatever His plans are for me next. I'm not a patient person, so it has been a challenge, but He is sooo patient and so good. After all, I'd rather feel like I'm a hot mess and have Him in my life guiding me than having it "all together" and not feeling His presence at all.

Overall, 2018 was such an amazing year for me that I was kind of worried of what 2019 will be like. Then I laughed and thought.. "Why should I worry if I have God on my side?" This coming year will have ups and downs, but that's with any new year. All I know is... I'm super excited for what God will do in my life and those around me in 2019.