I walked into NatCon expecting connection, conversations, and content, familiar faces, easy moments, and stories that would translate neatly into photos and memories. Instead, I found myself navigating uncertainty, anxiety, and quiet moments of self-reflection I didn’t plan for. This episode explores what happens when you enter a space hoping to feel seen… and realize that growth sometimes comes from feeling invisible first.

I reflect on the weekend as it unfolded, the long drive, unexpected roommates, crowded rooms, and learning when survival looks like stepping back instead of pushing through. I talk honestly about attending breakout sessions on mental health, masculinity, and relationships, and the in-between moments where fear, prayer, and self-awareness collided. It became less about the event itself and more about noticing how I respond when I feel out of place.

This episode is ultimately about courage, not the loud kind, but the quiet decision to act even when you’re scared. From taking a risk I never thought I could, to confronting rejection, to learning that healing doesn’t always come from answers but from being carried for a moment. NatCon didn’t fix my life, but it reminded me that I can still step forward with honesty, boundaries, and self-respect even when things don’t go the way I imagined.