If you don’t know me, my name is Shelby. I’m currently a senior in high school, and this coming September, I’m going on World Race Gap Year to South Africa, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Peru.
In today’s society, we place so much emphasis on following the path that everyone does: high school, college, 9-5. If you stray from that path, you need to prove to everyone why it’s like you’re suddenly ‘that girl who isn’t going to college next year.’ I know the judgment and assumptions that come with not going to college after high school. But I’m going where I feel called, and where I know, I’m where I’m supposed to be.
I never liked the question, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” I mean, what adult knows what they want to be when you grow up. It’s the worst question; it implies that once you reach a particular age, life has no more meaning, and there is nothing left for you to achieve. If you’re like me and have no clue where you want to end up, you dread this question. I have no clue what I want to major in, a possible field, or a possible job, and that’s ok. I’m only 18, and if I had my life completely planned out, that would honestly scare me more. Being open to possibilities is more important; you don’t close yourself off to opportunity because they don’t fit into the plan you made when you were 14.
To a lot of people, this seems like a shock, something I would never do. I’ve been going to a college preparatory school for 12 years, where it’s a fact that I’ll be in college following my senior year. However, those close to me would say that this is simply the next step in my life. I’ve been going on mission trips since I was 13 years old. I’ve been all around the country and the world, and every time my life is changed, I have a new perspective, strengthened my relationship with God, and had the opportunity to meet the most wonderful people. When I found out about World Race, it seemed like the next thing for me. Now that’s not to say I’m giving up college; I fully intend to go to college when I get back.
So what exactly is the world race? The world race is a nine-month mission trip to usually three, but in my case, four countries for 18-20-year-olds. It’s an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone while serving others. I’ll be going to South Africa, Nicaragua, Ecuador, and Peru.
The number one question I get when I tell people I’m going on the World Race is, “what are you going to be doing?” And my answer to that is I don’t know. I mean, I kind of know, I know in what I’m doing, I’ll be serving those around me and showing them the love of God. But the day to day schedule is a mystery. Some possibilities of what my ministry could be are teaching English, working at daycares, manual labor, or working at special needs homes. Every day I’m gone will be in God’s hands, and I’ll be where he calls me, and that’s part of the adventure.
This trip isn’t a nine-month vacation where I get to sit on a beach during the day and party all night. It’s hard work, both emotionally, spiritually, and physically. While I’m on this trip, I will be giving up a lot: Hot showers, Air Conditioning, toilets, WiFi, my friends and family, and much more. Giving up these things is hard, and I don’t like the idea of fitting everything I will need for nine months into one backpack (like how?). But in the end, I know that following where I’m called will allow me to grow as a person.
This blog is how I will document my travels, ministry, and just day to day life. If you want, you can subscribe so that you can get an email every time that I post a new blog.
I also need as much support I can get, whether its financially or through prayer (or manifestation, or whatever you feel fits). If you want, you can donate using the link on my page. You could also Venmo me @ShelbyWhiting. I will also be doing fundraisers throughout the coming months, and if you want to stay up to date with those, you can follow my Instagram @shelby.whiting. And for those who don’t use Instagram, I may start using my Facebook page if there is interest. Anyways…I’m so excited for this next chapter of my life, and I hope you all can follow along too!
Toodles!
