"I feel like I have a new life and I'm going to take full advantage of it."

A year ago I had nothing.

I had just dropped out of college. I didn't really have a job, except for my Monday night shift. I wasn't going to church every Sunday. I didn't really see my friends much and that didn't help with my recent diagnosis of depression. I wanted to get away from home as much as possible so I just went to Ashland almost every weekend to get away from everything. This took a toll on my money, health, and also myself. I wasn't really happy and I used Ashland to try to escape. But the truth was that I just didn't want to grow up.

One year later I feel like I have everything.
I have a steady job that helps me pay for my wonderful car and gives me the opportunity to tithe at church. I go to church regularly and enjoy every part of it. I have amazing friends that I trust and enjoy spending time with. I have a loving family that accepts me and takes care of me. And the most wonderful improvement in my life is that I'm with my wonderful boyfriend who cares about me more than I could ever imagine. He's helped me in so many ways, like helping to bring my family closer together and helping me to be a better me. I am so blessed to have him in my life and I can't imagine not being with him.

I think I'm closer than ever to growing up. It's always been major fear of mine. But with the help of my loving family, friends, and boyfriend I feel like I can and I look forward to it.