ABOUT ME | blog

MY LIFE THUS FAR:

I'd like to begin my biography by stating a quote that influences a lot of my decisions about people. As stated by Plato, "Be kind. For everyone you meet is fighting a hard battle." My life is the typical rollercoaster for anyone on this earth. I am aware that others have had harder lives and others have had easier lives. But in the end, it does not matter the past we have faced or the future that is to come; knowing that God provides and surrendering our lives to Him each and everyday is all that matters.

I was raised in Laurel, Mississippi, almost my entire life. I went to Laurel Christian Elementary School. We did not go to church much, but finally settled at Life Church after journeying to find the right home church in our area where we lived. I proclaimed Christ as my savior when I was nine years old (on my great grandmother's birthday actually!) under the guidance of Mrs. Gayne Napier at Highland Baptist Church's Vacation Bible School.

I have danced since the age of three years old. I began taking dance lessons at Dance Arts in Ellisville, Mississippi under the instruction of Mrs. Laura Davis. At the age of around seven years old, I began to dance under the instruction of Mrs. Juna Broome at Laurel Little Theater, in which she bought her own dance studio Dance Etc. a few years later.

I attended high school at Laurel Christian High School. My seventh grade year is when I really began to dig into my Bible study and read my Bible as a daily act. I began doing this under my Bible teacher at the time, Mr. Mike Allen.

One of the hardest years of my life was eight grade year of my schooling career. My parents separated, and I began to investigate my body. I hid behind a drape of shutting down to people and blocking out those around me. I was considered anemic by doctors, because no one really did not know what was wrong with me. I constantly shook and was tired.

Around one and half years later, I confessed to my parents that I was physically and mentally struggling with a lot of self-inclined issues. My parents showed kindness and wanted to help me get through these problems. I was diagnosed with anxiety and depression around my tenth grade year of high school.

I attended my freshmen year of college at the University of Southern Mississippi (SMTTT) as a Dance Education major, as well as, a Luckyday Citizenship Scholar. At this time, I firmly believed that God wanted me to be a dance teacher, but we all know that what we believe usually is not what God wants. When school first started, I met Brennan Kennedy. We began talking, eventually dated, eventually broke up, and eventually talked again. I mention him, because Brennan has helped me find happiness in many troubling times, as well as, taught me many valuable lessons about my personal life that has lead me to spiritual healing. Around the beginning of school, I lost my grandfather to Alzheimers and my great-grandmother to age. All three deaths that occurred in 2015 have heavied my heart, but I know that all three of my family's loved ones are in heaven in the greatest condition that is too complex for our minds to understand.

The summer of 2016 was a huge learning experience for me. I was blessed to be a youth leader for a youth camp we attended through Life Church, as well as, for one that we hosted. It really brought me closer to the youth at the church. This was also the summer that I decided to change my major to Elementary Education. I found out that one of my closest friends in high school was going to be attending USM, as well. We have gotten closer already spiritual and in friendship. Olivia Hamill can always make me laugh no matter what.

Currently, I am still at the University of Southern Mississippi as an Elementary Education major. I previously Laura Catherine Dawson with a program called Leaps of Faith through Earl Travillion Attendance Center. I am training under Chad Landrum to understand what it is like to be a youth pastor, although I may or may not partake in that occupation. I am heavily influenced by Ron Clark and what he has done for students and people around the country. I am still an active member at Life Church. My Pawpaw and my Nanny encourage me always and send love even when we are miles apart. I cherish them both very dearly. My parents, Scotty and Theresa Phillips, both make up my number one fan (as I always say). They have grown stronger in their relationship, and I cannot thank the Lord enough for their strength through everything. I am beyond grateful for the relationships I have now. I am meeting new people, and developing new relationships with people. I still have anxiety, but I have learned to control it more with the help of my dad, who suffers from anxiety, as well. On a positive note, I love pumpkin spice anything, ice cream, and cats. A large portion of my heart belongs to my kitty Stonewall.

I hope my life is seen as testimony to those who are lost about what God is trying to do in their lives. To conclude my biography for now, I would like to state that believing our God provides makes all the difference in our lives. He sees everything that happens and is there with unexplainable love and forgiveness every step of the way. Praise His name for what He has done in my life thus far.

My life began to be directed back to God and learning the ways in which to please Him by living my life according to His Word. I was more involved with my youth group at Life Church. I began to develop some of my closest relationships with my friends, Christen Ford and Addison Parker, around this time. I began a Bible club at my school with the help of my youth paster, Chad Landrum. I would like to add that Chad has been there for me and has helped me in so many different ways. He has been not only one of my mentors but also a huge supporter of my life. I also met online (wow, I know) one of the closest people in my life now, Rebecca Barnes. She has always known how to make me laugh. I have seen her grow in strength, and I cannot be more proud of her.

My anxiety worsened, unfortunately. But, I found that my anxiety made me stronger in a spiritual standpoint. My depression began to fade around my junior year of high school. Two teachers, whom I learned so much from and am very grateful for, was my Biology and Chemistry teacher, also my youth pastor's wife, Mrs. Brinkley Landrum, and my Advanced Placement English teacher, Mrs. Anita Boyd. Not only were they academically wonderful teachers, but they were also some of my greatest spiritual influences. I also switched dance studios to Laurel Ballet Academy under the instruction of Mrs. Jill Pelhan Day, who to this day is one of my most greatest influences.

My senior year approached and God blessed me with so many wonderful memories during this time. Of course, we fly through a never ending rollercoaster throughout our lives. We went through a lot of personal family issues. My grandmother passed away from dementia in May right before I graduated. This took a major tole on my family, but God provided us with peace to know that she was with Jesus.

At this time, the Bible Club had grown so large. Bree Fennell, one of the members of the Bible Club, took on my role as the leader of the club the proceeding year. I am so grateful for her and her leadership. I graduated as the Board of Trustees scholar (most seen spiritual leadership), as well as, a co-Historian of my graduating class of 2015 from Laurel Christian High School. I am beyond grateful to be able to graduate with that mark I left at that school.

That summer, I used the "L" for the first time toward a guy, but we broke up when I started school. I made mistakes, yet God gave me peace and strength. Although, I still have heartaches at times over that situation, I have learned from those mistakes, and they have made me stronger.