A Good-Bye Message from Ashley Broadwater
Dear Youth Family,
First and foremost, I have loved my three years working with you. You all are inquisitive, interesting, participative, loving and smart. You made my Sunday nights, retreat weekends, and mission weeks both fun and engaging. You helped me feel included and cool, which was especially meaningful for me as someone who gets socially anxious.
Even though I’m in Atlanta now, I’m still here for you all, and I wanted to share two encouraging messages I learned throughout my time in school.
My first message is this: Having perspective is so important. So many things feel like the end of the world and they’re not. Maybe you made a bad grade on a test. Well, it was just one grade and one class in the midst of many. Further, many successful people have also made bad grades and gotten rejected many times.
Or maybe you aren’t in the best home situation. But remember, you have people who want to help you, and you won’t be stuck there forever. So many people have made it out of the dark and you can too.
One way to help your perspective generally is to think, will this matter or bother me or be a problem in a couple months? In a couple years? A lot of times, the answer is no. You just have to get through those hard moments one step at a time.
My second message is this: Don’t be afraid to be vulnerable and to reach out. Talking about things you feel ashamed of is scary for sure. But I’ve also been pleasantly surprised by how much community and relief we can find once we open up and make others feel more comfortable to do the same. We’ll realize that we aren’t as alone as we think we are and can find support in each other. It’s truly powerful and meaningful.
I love you all, I’m proud of you all, and I wish you all the best!
Love,
Ashley
