Raluca

My name is Raluca and I live in Dej, Romania, with my mother. Until the age of eighteen, I lived with both parents, but since then my father decided to leave. I had both parents close to me as a child and grew up basking in their love without being aware of how things actually worked. I was a sensitive child. As I got older, I hated being so sensitive, and I wanted to have more courage. I misunderstood my sensitivity; I saw it as a flaw until a youth leader patiently explained to me that sensitivity is a gift from God that I must cultivate. This sparked a journey of faith where I began to discover God. As I came to understand Him more, I managed to heal from my fears and understand the challenges of adolescence, which has helped me overcome my parents’ separation.

During my parent’s divorce, I felt the need to find an escape from all the chaos, and Jesus was the only and the best escape I could find. I came in contact with Young Life when I was asked to be a cabin leader at camp, and I really liked everything I saw. Later, I became a volunteer leader and love being a friend others can depend on as they navigate the pitfalls of adolescence.

Now a Developing Global Leader, I am studying in the field of languages. I studied my mother tongue, Romanian, as well as English. In the future, I want to work as a Romanian or English teacher, because I like to be around children and offer them a helping hand in their intellectual development and, if necessary, their emotional development. I will be the first in my family to graduate from university.