It Will All Come Together

Reflecting on the way that I now view myself, I can openly and honestly say I’ve not always been the “confident, focused, & inspiring” Christiauna that I am today. I can admit that there have been moments on my journey where I questioned what I’d become and how the hardships I’d faced as an adolescent would ultimately play a part in my becoming. In those seasons of discovery & hardship, it wasn’t easy to see everything working for the greater good BUT.. eventually they did. This blog post is dedicated to anyone on their journey just trying to FIGURE IT OUT! Hang tight.

MY STORY

After graduating high school, I took off to college at the beautiful University of Arkansas in Fayetteville (WOOOPIG) where I started out studying Animal Science. It was my dream to become this amazing agricultural veterinarian and to own a ranch after completing my studies, but that dream ended after agreeing to transfer to Pulaski Technical College in hopes to save money. They didn’t have the above program which forced me to choose a new field of study (at this point, I was already over the collegiate route) but I persisted and chose General Studies until SOMETHING sounded interesting. While trying to put together my career puzzle, I worked here and there to “maintain” my apartment (with no bed, but it was mine lol) and vehicle. Long story short, I was abruptly evicted from my apartment forcing me to sleep on the condo floor of a relative (Yes, you read it correctly). Before my eyes, my perfectly chaotic and directionless world had fallen apart.

At 21.

Fast forward a year, I was able to eventually regain residential and educational stability (with the help of my family), enrolling at the University of Arkansas in Little Rock where I’d chosen to study psychology. This HAD to be it. I thought that after months of searching for purpose and recovering from countless unmentioned hardship that I’d figured it out. NOPE! Between now working full time and also trying to keep up with my social life, I lost focus and was put on academic probation which eventually resulted in the discontinuation of my studies.

At 22, I’d been through more than most my age. I had no idea what I’d be or how I would get there. I had no money, no clear career plan, and no idea what my purpose was but in the back of my mind, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE TURMOIL, I knew that everything I was facing would be the steppingstones for brighter days! There were hidden gems that, years later, I was able to take away from each experience. Every loss, every uncertain decision, everyTHING I went through worked as the catalyst for my testimony today. Were there moments where I felt discouraged? Absolutely, but with each moment came the gift of a lesson. If you were to tell 21-year-old me that I’d someday be working in management at the greatest hospital in the state, building a sustainable business, writing a book, KILLING motherhood, and using this platform to encourage others, I’d call you a liar and then ask you … “how?”

Romans 8:28!! Somehow, someway, all things work together for good 🤍

I am nowhere near where I AM GOING TO BE, but I am a long way from where I was.

Keep moving forward and take each experience as another opportunity to learn. Although the situation may seem directionless and unrecoverable, it doesn’t have to be final. As long as we continue to focus on moving THROUGH hard times, elevation is inevitable! You may not have the answers to every question that life will present, but be confident in knowing that one day, it’ll all come together for YOUR good.

XOXO,

Christiauna 🤍