Nikita Voroniuk [PC: Eric Herzog]
I spent the first 17 years of my life in the same town, where everyone knew one another, and I became very comfortable with the life I had. I didn’t anticipate the drastic change God had in store for me.
At the age of 17, my life took a very unexpected turn. That was when I arrived in an even smaller town—this time, thousands of miles away in Oregon—where I started a new chapter of my life. This decision came after realizing there were no opportunities for me to study business in a Christian setting back home in Russia. So, my family and I sought opportunities in the U.S., hoping to maintain the many benefits of Christian education. Since I didn’t speak the language and was unfamiliar with the culture, I first enrolled in a program to better prepare myself for the challenges ahead.
It was incredibly hard to leave my family, friends and everything I knew and loved, and to get used to a new life. Just as I started to learn life in its new form, I graduated high school and moved to Michigan to study business at Andrews University. This was the second time in one year that I had to leave people I loved behind and continue life, trusting in God. During that period of my life, I truly learned what it meant to entrust my life to His hands. These changes resulted in many hardships, but during my most difficult moments, I felt His presence the most. God showed Himself through people who recognized my needs and helped me get through seemingly impossible situations.
As I began searching for my purpose in life, I knew I wanted to align with His purpose for me. I really wanted to reflect the character of God, just as I had experienced through others when I needed it most. As I thought of the past and realized how wonderful God had been to me through my family, friends, coworkers and even strangers, I knew I wanted to be that beam which represents God’s eternal light to as many people as I can.
That is how I decided to pursue a career in health care. While at Andrews University, I learned that AdventHealth was hiring interns. After spending some time at AdventHealth, I knew this was the place for me. An organization that places its foundation on the mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ and focuses on whole-person care seemed like the perfect environment to reflect God’s character and live out my purpose.
Throughout all of the unexpected turns my life took, I learned to give up control and trust in His promises. However, there are still principles I stand by and things I believe I need to do on my part to fulfill the purpose God has for me.
“Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and He will establish your plans” (Proverbs 16:3, NIV). Finally, I believe in fully trusting God with the fulfillment of the goals I set in faith. Nobody knows how to steer my life better than the Creator of the universe.
Trust God in everything you do, and stay proactive with your goals, aspirations and understanding of His ways.
Nikita Voroniuk is a finance leadership resident at UChicago Medicine AdventHealth.
