Birth Place & Date
I was born in Grossmont Hospital in San Diego California on April 15, 1994. I was three weeks premature and a small six pounds three ounces.
Family Members
My mother has been born and raised in San Diego her whole life. She is now a special education teacher in the Santee school district. My father was born in Virginia but raised in North Carolina. As a young adult my dad enlisted in the Navy. He was then stationed down in Mira Mesa. My parents met when my mother was out with a girlfriend who was hanging out with my fathers roommate. They talked, they dated, got married and had myself and my brother. Later down the road my brother Peyton came.
Childhood & School Life
Well I was the first born to David and Kerensa Bender, their precious princess. I was their whole world, a spoiled little kid, for the first four years at least. Then came along my brother David. A cute kid with chubby cheeks. Everything was great when we were real young. Mom worked during the day at the school and my dad left for work in the evenings, so we always had a parent around. But, by the time I was almost eight and David was four our little world we thought was perfect came crashing down when our parents decided to divorce.
Career Aspirations & Path To Achieve
My career aspirations would be to one day be a producer for special live events. Leaning more towards the music industry. To achieve this goal, first i have to graduate high school. Then I plan to go to community college to get my general education done. Then, hopefully I would like to transfer to a christian university, where I would finish the rest of my schooling to graduate.
Life Goals
Some of my life goals would be to graduate college from Biola University. That would be amazing. Then I would love to follow my dreams of being a producer. Maybe even one day get married to the man of my dreams, my best friend, and have a family. On a separate note when i turn nineteen and age out of my youth group I would like to become part of the So Cal Youth interns and experience the awesome things these God driven teens do. Then also become staff at my youth group at church.(:
Anecdotes
The first time I went to the youth group at church I felt weird like it was a daycare or something. The teenagers I saw were definitely no the same people who I saw on a weekend bases at church. These kids were just teens off the street "Hoodlums" I guess you could say. Just a bunch of kids in the main sanctuary listening to music and talking. I felt like an outcast not knowing anyone. I even saw one of the staff members take a kids phone for having it out during worship. Right then I decided this was not for me. For the next few months the youth pastor Tim kept begging me to try it out again. Soon enough I came back and I still haven't left. They became my friends my best friends and even my family.
The first time I attended a church camp was defiantly different. The camp is up in Frazier park about six hours away. I was a little nervous being away from my family with people who were my good friends but didn't know me too well. The drive up wasn't too bad I hopped in the car with fewer people instead of the van with about fifteen crazy teens. Once we got up there we all had a great time meeting new people from other churches and having fun in the snow. Even though I got sick right before we were leaving to go home I still had a great time. I've never experienced such true fellowship and amazing worship before i attended camp!
