Finding Trust
Senior Addi Johnson has watched her trajectory change in many facets in her time at Midland.
As a freshman, Addi began as an education major and a part of the volleyball team. Amid her final semester at Midland, Addi is now wrapping up her degree in agribusiness, as well as a new career in flag football. Reflecting on these shifts in her Midland experience, Addi considers working through these changes in her trajectory as a lesson in finding trust.
Coming from Nenzel, Nebraska, a small town in the western part of the state, Addi’s background is rooted in the agriculture industry and small community. While in high school, Addi played volleyball, and it was that passion that initially led her to Midland on scholarship.
“I loved volleyball to death in high school. I was a good athlete, and what I loved about volleyball was that I could lose myself in the game. It wasn’t about the scores; it wasn’t about how I was hitting it or where I was hitting it. I could just go out and play and forget about what was going on, or what I was struggling with that day.”
Addi came to Midland initially playing with the volleyball team and studying science education. However, her first year was challenging for Addi as these experiences became unaligned with what she wanted in her life. Her sophomore year brought about the change in the trajectory she was looking for.
“To be honest, I didn’t like it here at first. Because of this, I was trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life. I was stuck in biology and education, and I didn’t like education. But sophomore year was fun. We got the agribusiness program going, and I was able to switch sports and do something I really loved, which was flag football. I haven’t looked back since.”
As a student in the agribusiness program, Addi is doubling down on a passion that her upbringing has fostered. Going into agribusiness, Addi feels at home and studying it has helped her realize that this is what she has always wanted to do.
“Ag was always a passion of mine. There’s never been a time when I haven’t been surrounded by horses or cows and thoroughly loved it. It was something I loved being around while growing up, so maybe I’m just wired that way. I think that was God’s gift to me.”
When Addi considers her first year and her uncertainty, she believes that she needed to reorient herself. She needed to find that trust that things would work out. In the end, they did.
“If I could go back and tell myself something in the midst of the process I was going through, I’d probably say to have no expectations but trust that there’s something new coming. Don’t worry about today or tomorrow, or yesterday; just worry about right now and enjoy it. I needed to dive into the Word of God more and pray about things. I wish I had done more of that because I think it would have helped with the transition. Trust is a big thing. You have to trust that God’s not out to get you, but he has planted a purpose for you.”
Addi Johnson is a senior agribusiness major from Nenzel, NE. To share your story or nominate a friend, email social@midlandu.edu or post using #FacesofMidland.
