Senior Trip 2019 // The Northwestern Christian Writers Conference

For the last two months, every word of my writing has gone towards one thing: preparing to attend the Northwestern Christian Writer's conference. 

It. Was. Amazing. 

​My parents decided to drive me halfway across the state to St. Paul MN for my "senior trip". Now that I am officially graduated from high school, I am diving headfirst into as much more learning as I can. ;)

My six-month-old little brother tagged along as well.. <3​

​I can honestly say that I have never been more nervous than I was when I first set foot in doorway of the conference center. I was about to come face-to-face with hundreds of other writers, authors, editors, and a few friends that I had never met in person before. 

But if there is one thing that I've learned in my 18 years of existence, it's to do hard things that scare me. I always walk away glad that I did. 
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Highlights of the Conference:
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• Meeting four friends from an online writing community for the first time. I can't even begin to say how exciting it was to recognize them in person and get to tag along with friends for the weekend. :)

• Experiencing my very first pitch appointment. I only hope the editor actually understood a word that I said. Those were the fastest ten minutes of my life! I had a lot more fun than I was expecting and am excited for what the future holds. ;)
• Every time I bumped into someone and made a new friend. I was shocked by how many wonderful people I met at the conference! Each one of them inspired and encouraged me in ways they will never know. 
• Worship. It was a perfect way to start out the weekend and left me in awe of God's goodness. 
• Talking with Tessa Afshar (and other authors) as well as attending a small panel with Tessa, Julie Klassen, and Susan May Warren. 
• Spotting my parents waiting in the conference center after our last keynote. For some reason, that still makes me laugh a little. (Baby bro was so excited to see me... my heart melts just thinking about it. Haha!)

Best of all, I not only had an incredible time at the conference, but I got to spend a lot of time with my parents. It was so fun getting to explore (or get lost...) in the Twin Cities - and I needed someone to rant to when I arrived at the conference almost sick with fear and left walking on air. Some of my favorite memories of the trip were just of being with them.

​Despite all of my dreams and thrilling expectations for the conference, I was still surprised and completely blown away. I was expecting to be encouraged and hopefully propelled a little further along my writing journey. 

Instead, I was set on fire for the gospel. 

It didn't matter where I went, I was inspired to become the best writer I can possibly be, not for the sake of "fame and fortune", but so that I can glorify God. 

He is the reason I write.