school assignments

I am not a member of an organized religion. Formal and documented belief systems don’t move or stir my soul. For me to be moved towards faith or a sense of enlightenment, I have to almost feel and experience it viscerally in my body. The sensation of spirituality that moves and resonates with me is not captured in a church service or bible passage. It is in the soil, the warmth of a fire, the remarkable beauty of a sunrise, and in the beauty of humanity.

            Both of my parents were raised Catholic and had my brother and I baptized and put through catechism classes to receive our First Holy Communion. Aside from these sacraments, religion was never emphasized or pushed on my brother and I. A relationship with God and all that is of a higher consciousness was always encouraged and nurtured. My parents, especially my father, were always sure to speak with us about the importance of prayer and the power of faith. The faith that was instilled in me was rooted in Catholic morals and Native American teachings. My multiracial ancestry has a strong Native American lineage from the southwestern United States. Along with the two aforementioned Catholic sacraments, I was taken to various indigenous ceremonies that nurtured my connection to my ancestors and to the Creator. It is this universal and holistic love and respect for all things that has guided me to my path as a compassionate learner and future nurse practitioner.