When people ask how I ended up at Fresno Pacific University, I often smile and say, “It’s a long story, but one written by God Himself, because it was not my personal choice to move here.” Born and raised in Santa Barbara, I never imagined I’d leave the coast for the Central Valley. But sometimes, God leads you away from comfort to draw you closer to purpose.
A Life Interrupted, Then Rewritten
I’m a mother of four, a full-time university employee and a full-time student in the Christian Ministry and Leadership program at Fresno Pacific University. I also serve as the president of Tri-Alpha, the first-generation honor society. I’m currently working toward earning my first bachelor’s degree, expected in May 2026, and I plan to enter seminary in the fall of that same year. Every step has been a miracle, and I walk forward with faith in what God has yet to do.
But life wasn’t always filled with accomplishments. Everything I hold now has come through deep surrender, hard work and God’s grace, especially in these past couple of years.
I come from a childhood home marked by addiction, chaos, brokenness and pain I never thought I would survive, let alone rise from. By 18, I was a college freshman, living in a cloud of confusion and emotional darkness that quietly welcomed depression. By 20, I had dropped out of community college, overwhelmed by family struggles and stuck in survival mode.
But even in the darkest environments, God’s hand was over me. Despite growing up surrounded by substance abuse, I never once turned to alcohol or drugs. In fact, I grew to hate it. The
temptation was never there, not because of my own strength, but because of God’s protection.
Still, the chains of addiction followed me into adulthood, through my relationship with the father of my children during that season of our lives. Through that relationship, I was being deeply affected by the environment we were in. I became a silent victim of addiction, carrying its weight in a different way. And in the process, I buried dreams I once had, for my education, my future and the life I thought I was building.
But God, in his mercy, wasn’t just working in me, He was also working in him. And while much of that journey is sacred and personal, I know our testimonies are intertwined. God’s hand has
been present through every chapter.
But God...
Everything changed in January 2019 when I encountered Jesus. His love was unlike anything I had ever known. It didn’t fix my circumstances overnight, but it began to restore something inside me: Hope.
I returned to school in the fall of 2019, determined to rewrite my story. But it wasn’t easy. There were still battles at home and deep emotional wounds that needed healing. In 2022, after years of struggling to find peace within my relationship with the father of my children, I made one of the hardest decisions of my life. I packed up everything I could, gathered my children and moved to Parlier, CA, seeking refuge with my mother and stepfather. I had no real plan, only faith. Faith
that if I took one step forward, God would meet me on the path.
During this new season, I was still trying to write my own story, trying to fix what was broken, control outcomes and create a better life for my children and myself. But in the stillness of one night, God spoke to me through a dream. In the dream, I was loading up my four children and as many belongings as I could, preparing to return to Santa Barbara. As I turned onto the Kingsburg 99 South entrance ramp, ready to drive back to the very place God had delivered me from, the steering wheel suddenly detached from the car. The car came to a quiet stop on the side of the on-ramp and no longer moved. When I woke up, it became clear: I was not supposed to go back. And I was not meant to be the one steering, God was.
That dream was God’s gentle but firm reminder that I needed to surrender, fully. I had to stop
trying to direct every detail of my life and trust him to take control. That was the turning point. I didn’t just surrender my plans; I surrendered the wheel to my life and my family’s as well.
Now, I no longer strive to rewrite my story. I’ve placed it fully in God’s hands.
Now, God is writing his story through my life, one I could never have written on my own.
From Financial Aid to a Future in Ministry
During that season of transition, I enrolled at Reedley College, earning two associate degrees
(one cum laude) and three business certificates December of 2023. I also began working in the college’s financial aid office, which is where I came across a job posting at Fresno Pacific University.
I’d never heard of FPU before, honestly, I thought Fresno only had Fresno State. But as I read about FPU’s values and mission, something in me said, “Apply.” That one step of obedience opened a new chapter in my life, the most beautiful one.
Working at FPU while studying here has been one of the greatest blessings. It was also here that I finally surrendered to my true calling, not in business, but in ministry. After years of resisting
what God had been placing on my heart, I accepted his direction.
Now, at 35 years old, I hold a 3.6 GPA. I work full time, study full time and raise four children, all while pursuing a deeper relationship with Christ and a life dedicated to serving others.
Holding Onto Faith in the Storm
I’ll be honest, life is still hard. Every day is a balancing act. There are storms I never expected and burdens that feel too heavy to carry. But one thing I’ve learned in this season is this:
I am not the fixer, God is. I can’t change others or control my circumstances. But I can choose to lean into Jesus, especially when the waves rise.
Walking closely with God doesn’t mean you won’t face trials. It means you know who holds you steady in the storm. Through the M.A. in Christian Ministry and Leadership program, I’m gaining more than knowledge. I’m being spiritually equipped to lead, to serve and to stand firm in faith, no matter the season.
Franny’s Words of Encouragement
To Prospective Students: Don’t Give Up
You may be reading this while walking through your own storm, questioning your worth, your future or whether you belong in higher education at all. Let me speak to you as a shepherd-in- training and remind you: You do!
God doesn’t promise an easy road, but He promises to walk it with you. The obstacles you face aren’t there to break you. They’re refining you, shaping you for the purpose He’s placed on your life. Don’t give up. Keep moving. Keep praying. Keep showing up, just as He always shows up for us.
Step out in faith, even if the path isn’t clear.
There will never be a “perfect time” to go back to school. If God put the desire in your heart, trust that He will make a way. Take that first step, even if your hands are shaking. That “yes” can change the entire direction of your life.
Hard seasons don’t cancel your calling.
Just because you’re walking through a storm does not mean you are off course. Some of the most powerful growth happens when everything feels like it’s falling apart. Don’t give up, God is still working.
You are stronger than you think.
You might be working full-time, parenting, caregiving or carrying invisible battles no one else sees. But here you are, still showing up. That strength is not small, it’s sacred. God sees your
hidden struggles. You are never alone.
Your story matters, especially the messy parts.
Someone out there needs to hear your journey. Don’t disqualify yourself because it doesn’t look perfect. God uses imperfect stories to reach people in powerful ways.
Lean into your faith, not your fear.
There will be days when you question everything. That’s when you press in even harder. God
hasn’t brought you this far to leave you now. Trust his timing, even when it doesn’t make sense.
Ask for help. You’re not alone.
You were never meant to do this by yourself. Reach out. Find your community. God often sends help through people; we just have to be willing to receive it. I’ve learned this firsthand. God placed new people in my life at the most precious and unexpected times. From my new home church to here at FPU, I’ve found my best friends and family in Christ, as well as more support than I’ve ever known. I thank God for surrounding me with people who truly love and care about me in my personal and my educational success.
You belong in this space. You deserve to grow.
Don’t let doubt or comparison talk you out of what God has for you. It’s easy to feel like you’re behind or that everyone else is further along, but you are not in a race against anyone else’s timeline. God’s plan for your life is unique, and it’s unfolding exactly when it’s meant to. You were made for more. You are worthy of education, healing and hope.
“Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for You are with me.”
-Psalm 23:4
God is with you in the valley. He is your shepherd, your strength and your guide, and He’s not done writing your story.
To Our Scholarship Donors: Thank You for Changing Lives
Your generosity does so much more than fund degrees, it breathes hope into dreams and transforms futures. Because of your kindness, I have been able to focus on my education without the heavy weight of financial worry. Your belief in students like me is a powerful investment, not only in individual lives but in families, communities and ministries yet to come
From the bottom of my heart, thank you for walking alongside me on this journey. Your support is a tangible expression of God’s love, and I pray that you feel the impact of the difference you are making every single day. One day, I hope to stand where you are now, lifting others up, just as you have lifted me. May God abundantly bless you for the seeds of hope and opportunity you’ve sown into so many lives.
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