In a world where:
I was lost…the future was so uncertain…complacency was enough…I had little direction.
Sports, music, communications, ministry, all were options. I knew Tabor was at the top of my list for a myriad of reasons, but I didn’t know where I was headed as a person.
I needed:
Stability…an eye-opening experience…to feel loved…Tabor was an escape.
I was able to participate in sports and music, while having the freedom to find out who I was as an individual and a follower of Christ. I was blessed with countless opportunities to lead and grow as a performer in music and theatre. I was able to see my dream of going to Europe become a reality. I was blinded by the false sense of reality I’d been living in; one in which I saw myself furthering the Gospel through sports.
Tabor provided:
A community of support…supportive faculty who poured into me…life.
The wonderful group of like-minded friends and acquaintances I made while at Tabor was just what I needed to develop my passion for serving Christ. The music and theatre faculty supported my growth not only as a performer, but an individual. They poured into me as a human being, something I’ve found hard to come by other places. God used Tabor and every individual I came in contact with to open my eyes to the reality of His message; that is, finding true life in His love.
Testimony:
I grew up in Hillsboro. Tabor was a part of my life from the moment I came to Hillsboro as a two-year old. To say I had a fallback plan for college would be an understatement. However, I don’t truly believe there was ever another option. Tabor was always where God had me going. Music and sports were the two most important things in my life. I played football and baseball my freshman year, while participating in choir, and pursuing a degree in Christian ministry, with a youth ministry focus. It didn’t take long for me to realize I wasn’t living the life God had intended. At the end of my freshman year I changed my major to Music Education. With that change I began on a path that has taken me, quite literally, to the other side of the world. With the love and support of many in the music department, I completed my degree in music and began to pursue graduate school for voice. A year after graduating from Tabor I began pursuing a master of music degree in opera performance from Wichita State University. I was met with a community of individuals that immediately accepted me and I finally felt as if I’d found my calling as a follower of Christ. My voice has taken me, most recently, to Germany, as well as Italy and various performance venues around the state of Kansas. There’s no more exhilarating feeling for me than performing on stage, whether in a show or a concert, for an audience. Although it’s nearly impossible for me to portray the love of Christ on stage, I have the unique opportunity to connect with other performers and audience members off stage and show how Christ has impacted my life.
Although I don’t do a fantastic job of updating it, as I am usually very busy with schoolwork and rehearsing for my next show, I do have a blog, which currently outlines my experiences over the last few years of performances and growth as a singer.