Has your life ever completely changed in the blink of an eye? Because mine did.
One moment, I was rehearsing with my acapella group, making plans with friends, and showing up for work. The next, I found myself in complete isolation.
It all started in 2021, during the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic. Everyone around me was insistent on the vaccine. Coming from a more holistic family, we wanted to take our time, do our research, and weigh the long-term effects before making such a personal decision. But in a town like Princeton, privacy wasn’t exactly an option.
I remember sitting in Italian class when I got called to the office. They informed me I was a “close contact” of someone with COVID (someone I barely knew and sat three seats away from). Because I wasn’t vaccinated—even though I was completely healthy—I was sent home for two weeks.
As someone who genuinely loved school and rarely missed a day, I was devastated. On top of that, it was the week before our annual winter concert, so I couldn’t participate. It felt like I was being punished for a choice that aligned with my values.
But that wasn’t the worst part.
Because people knew only the “unvaxxed” were sent home, it became obvious why I was singled out. Rumors spread, and the questions turned into accusations. People were mad, but I stayed true to my beliefs.
And that was just the beginning.
Around the same time, a photo of me with a political figure surfaced. I had attended several Turning Point USA conferences and took photos with various people, but this one spread like wildfire. All of a sudden, I became the talk of the town—and not in a good way.
My phone blew up with hateful texts, many from people I thought were close friends. On social media, the photo was reposted with cruel captions. People made TikToks directed at me, filmed me in public without my knowledge, and shared the footage. Everywhere I turned, it felt like there was no escape.
You’d think it would die down after a week, but it didn’t.
At school, things got worse. Nobody—not even the closeted conservatives—would talk to me. Walking to class became something I dreaded, as I was shoved in hallways and cursed at. I was afraid to go to work or ballet, things I once loved. Even my acapella group wanted me out because they claimed I made them “unsafe.”
It was overwhelming. I wanted to quit everything—school, dance, my job—but I somehow kept going. The stress took a toll on my body, though. I felt like I was breaking from the inside out.
At that time, my family didn’t regularly attend church, so leaning on God wasn’t something I was used to. But in one of my lowest moments, I prayed. I asked God for help, even though I wasn’t sure what to expect.
That small step made all the difference.
I started looking up Bible verses and found comfort in them. I even changed my phone lock screen to one that gave me strength:
But the Lord stood with me and gave me strength.
— 2 Timothy 4:17
That verse became my anchor, bringing me peace and hope during such a difficult time. It marked the start of something new—a season of trusting God, even when everything felt like it was falling apart.
If you’re reading this and feeling discouraged, know that you’re not alone. God has a plan for your life, and He will provide the strength you need to keep going.
