"God has a plan for every single person on the Earth."

I heard this phrase so many times in my Bible class and church. Even my friends said it a lot. However, it took me a long time to actually see it as true.

I decided to come to the U.S. from South Korea as an exchange student in 2007. As soon as I withdrew from my high school in South Korea, I received a letter from the U.S government saying that I could not participate in the exchange program because they were unable to find a family willing to take me in. I couldn't go back to my old school, because I would have to wait a year to get in again. I was very frustrated, but there was another way; I could get a student visa and come to the U.S. as just a foreign student. My sponsor had about six school options and asked me which one I wanted to attend.

I chose to come to Indiana Academy (IA), because I had never heard anything about Seventh-day Adventists before. Since I was an atheist, just like my family, everything was very new and different to me. At first, I really didn't care about God or the Bible; but as time went on I started to understand who God is, through my friends and teachers. I started to recognize how God was working in my life, and I was very happy that I came to IA. I believe now it was all part of His plan to help me learn about Him.

This year I could have gone to a cheaper school, but I chose to come back to IA because I wanted to affirm my faith and be closer to God. I know it has been hard for my parents to afford my school bill, due to the economic crisis that has affected our economies in recent months. I wanted to help them financially, so I chose to work; but it still didn't seem like enough. I noticed my parents were having an even harder time paying for my school bill.

I prayed about it, because I wanted to go to Mexico for a mission trip. It was my first mission opportunity, and I had been planning on going for a long time; but the finances were just not available. My father was going to give up his classes for his master's degree just for me. Then, all of a sudden, on the day before we were supposed to leave for Mexico, I received huge financial help from one of my deans. I got to go to Mexico to do God's work, and it was an amazing experience.

Now I see God has a plan for everyone. He has a plan for you as well. You might not see it right now, as I didn't then, but you will. Breathe; breathe for your soul through prayer. Through that prayer He will whisper to you the plan He has for you.

Eugene Kim is a junior at Indiana Academy. His home is in Cheon-An, South Korea. He will receive a $100 scholarship since his article was selected for publication.