Christ Lutheran Church, Jeffersontown, Ky.
Junior, University of Louisville (Ky.)
Public health major; honors student
I’ve been involved at Christ Lutheran in a variety of capacities. Today I play violin with the church band and co-lead an intergenerational Sunday school class called LIFT (Living in Faith Together). It’s important to me to be part of a faith community where we can be encouraged and supported throughout different seasons of life. Being involved in church is less an obligation as it is a way to glorify and thank God and to be in community. I enjoy putting my faith into action in an intentional way.
I am incredibly blessed to be part of the Brown Fellows Program at the University of Louisville, and it’s been a wonderful experience so far. I enjoy being challenged, supported and surrounded by amazing mentors and peers who are passionate about different areas. The program is a full-ride scholarship and mentorship program that also gives recipients an opportunity to design two enrichment programs.
My first summer enrichment project was titled “Traversing the Path of Progress: Comparing the United Kingdom and United States Health Systems Through the Past and Present.” As a public health student passionate about improving community care, I explored the differences in how the two countries approach health care and public health. I conducted interviews with U.S. public health and health adjacent leaders, traveled to England for an immersive health history course, and interviewed health care professionals and nonprofits to uncover lessons from both systems.
One of the goals of the Brown Fellows program is to be an ambassador of Kentucky. This is achieved by traveling to different parts of the state. In high school, I didn’t imagine staying in the state I grew up in. Now, I couldn’t imagine it any other way. I’ve grown to have a greater appreciation for the place I call home. The history, culture and people’s stories have left an impression on me.
I’ve had a great experience with public health. Something I like about the field is that it is interconnected with everything. I’m interested in many different things, and I appreciate that public health is related to those interests in some way. I was certain my path would be in medicine, working directly to improve people’s health. But after nearly two years of diving into coursework and [career] shadowing, I realized medicine didn’t have my heart—at least not right now. While my commitment to improving community health remains, I’m more drawn to tackling social determinants of health through policy. I hope to make an impact on the systems that shape the lives of entire communities.
My ultimate goal is to identify where my gifts align with the greatest needs. I’m particularly passionate about improving access to health care and health education through advocacy, policymaking and policy analysis. I envision working in global health, whether by leading a nonprofit, contributing to governmental agencies like USAID or collaborating with international organizations such as the World Health Organization.
I enjoy putting my faith into action in an intentional way.
Participating in the ELCA Young Adult Climate Advocacy program has been both inspiring and empowering. It’s been a privilege to connect with so many incredible leaders who are making a real difference in their communities. I’ve gained a deeper understanding of federal and international advocacy and how it intersects with our faith. It has reminded me of the important role we each play—as individuals, as a church and as a community—[in caring] for one another and the world around us. This work goes beyond advocacy; it’s about building relationships and living out our shared responsibility to protect and nurture God’s creation for future generations.
In 2018, I attended the ELCA Youth Gathering in Houston. A youth leader there shared about her experience at the ELCA Youth Leadership Summit, and her story moved me deeply. When I learned they were looking for a youth leader from Kentucky, I immediately expressed my interest. Later that year, I attended the summit in Nebraska. I met incredible people, made new friends and learned about ELCA advocacy groups. For the first time, I saw the impact of the church’s work in the world.
Seeing others my age excited to share their faith and lead was powerful. After the event, I applied to the Youth Core Leadership Team that plans the summit. I am blessed to have been one of the 12 selected, and I served for two years. I have grown so much as a servant leader and have come to faith on my own outside of being a pastor’s kid.
Serving on the Mass Gathering Team for the 2024 Youth Gathering felt surreal—a dream come true. The 2018 Gathering was a pivotal stepping stone in my walk with Jesus. To now experience it from behind the scenes was a full-circle moment and one of the coolest experiences of my life. I’m honored and still in awe of the opportunity to be part of the Gathering in the capacity that I was in.
One of the best parts of being on the Mass Gathering Team was the chance to dream up ideas and bring them to life. That was especially true for creating the theme song, which my two talented friends and I had the opportunity to write. The process was certainly daunting but one I will never forget. Our goal was to make a song that people would like but, most importantly, to create a song that would praise God and touch those who heard it. “What’s the good news?” Being with thousands of my Lutheran family members, all gathered in one place, praising Jesus!
Serving as a young adult representative, voting member and Reference and Counsel Committee member for the Indiana-Kentucky Synod at the 2022 Churchwide Assembly was truly an honor. The experience gave me incredible insights and a glimpse of how God is working in and through the church. Worship was nothing short of awe-inspiring, filling me with pride in being Lutheran.
As a facilitator for the Louisville Youth Philanthropy Council (LYPC), a leadership development program, I help teach young people about the nonprofit sector and grantmaking process. My Saturdays are spent with 55 high school students from public, private and parochial schools around the Louisville area. (Organized chaos is where my heart is most happy.) The goal of LYPC is to create the next generation of philanthropic leaders who are socially conscious and empathetic. There are 16 classes throughout the school year where students hear from community leaders paving the way in the nonprofit and public sector. Students can also be grantmakers. They are divided into three teams, each responsible for investing $7,500 to nonprofits.
In facilitating these conversations, I’ve realized how crucial listening is. Leadership isn’t always about being in the front. It’s also stepping back and listening to understand. Every student brings their own unique perspective and experience. Inviting people into the conversation is different from simply giving them a seat at the table. Nonprofit work, at its core, is relational. I am continuing to build partnerships with nonprofits and foster relationships with my students, which has been an awesome experience.
The 2018 Youth Gathering was a pivotal stepping stone in my walk with Jesus.
I enjoy spending time with family and friends, and I enjoy learning. This love of learning has led me to various interests, including music, art, cooking, fashion and learning new languages. Out of these, music has affected me the most. I like playing piano, violin, guitar and singing.
I pray for those who are wrestling with their faith or feel far from the Lord—whether they’re just beginning their journey or have grown up in the faith. Even in moments of feeling distant, I pray that they are reminded that God is near, even when we don’t feel it.
I also pray for the entire world and all of creation—not just the environment but every person within it. I pray for the healing of the earth and the restoration of its beauty, for communities to find peace and unity, and for individuals to experience God’s love, hope and purpose. I lift up the oppressed, the hurting and the vulnerable, asking for justice and compassion to prevail. I pray that God’s presence may be felt in every corner of the world, bringing renewal and transformation to all creation.
I have witnessed God’s presence in my life everywhere, every day, in countless ways—from the people I’ve met to the stillness of being in the Lord’s creation. Faith isn’t built on feelings alone, and I know the Holy Spirit is always moving, whether we feel it or not. The outpouring of the Holy Spirit has been undeniable—through friendship, dancing, singing and moments of pure joy that can only come from the Lord.
I’ve started to have a lot of head-to-heart connections. Many biblical stories I grew up learning and the prayers we say in church take on a deeper meaning for me now. I’ve met so many young people who desire to learn and have a relationship with Jesus, and their passion reignites my own faith. When I feel stressed and overwhelmed by school and life, God’s joy sustains me—a joy that surpasses circumstances and understanding. I’m far from perfect, but God is, and that truth fills me with hope and gratitude every single day.
To me, grace is a gift freely given and undeservingly. God’s grace inspires me to extend empathy to others, especially when it’s difficult.
I’m a Lutheran because I couldn’t imagine doing life without God at the center of my life.
If you’d like to nominate someone for “I’m a Lutheran,” email livinglutheran@elca.org.
