I am 19 Years Old, I am Married, I have two Dogs, an awesome house on the lake in TN, I am the current World Champion Freestyle Kayaker, and I am a Philanthropist.

I just got home 2 weeks ago from traveling for 7 months. Once I get home I realize how crazy different my lifestyle is. I want to share with you how I already feel quite successful at such a young age.

My parents as well as my little brother always taught me one thing in life. You need to do what you love. People always grow up with these dreams of what they really enjoy doing and how they are going to be the fireman or the doctor or the finacial assistant but they end up selling themselves short. They dont pursue it all the way because they got other offers and did what other people told them would be a good idea.

How many kids go to college simply because its what their parents want. I am right around that age and I see each one of my friends going off to college for either two reasons, to party or because their parents really want them to. Or because thats what they are “supposed to do.” Most of them do a year, then take one off to rethink what they had started.

Everything I do, and where I am now i got here very simply, i just kept doing what i loved.

I loved my boyfriend  because I knew I could always make things work with him, and that i would be a happy, better person with him in my life, so I married him.

I love kayaking, it makes me truly happy and it allows me to express my competitive side in a happy super fun enviroment. And I get to be the best at something.

I love dogs and nothing is more rewards then saving a dog, which is why i now have two!

I have never had alot of money and I have never made very much so I always saved money growing up. Since i was 10, i loved knowing that the numbers were growing and i took so much pride in my little cash box.  Now using that moneyi saved a penny at a time,  i managed to buy an awesome house in TN.

Lastly I love knowing that i can live with so little, and I have so much. Our society expresses that we need so much to live. After visiting Africa numerous times I know that we need almost nothing to survive. Food, water, shelter and our health. That doesnt always keep me from buying ipods and cute clothes but I know that i dont need them.

The reason i give back is because I want people to know what it feels like to wake up and go to bed, not worrying about how your going to get your next meal, or how we shouldnt have drank that water because its making us sick. I want people to know what it feels like to not have to worry about where they are going to sleep, and most importantly not having to worry about making sure all their kids get to see adulthood.

The best thing you can do to give back to the world, is by starting with yourself and doing what you love. Because once you are truly happy, you will realize how easy giving back can really be.