What do you do when your whole identity revolves around academic performance? Well, for Ava Ward, it wasn’t good. The stress to perform at top level caused anxiety, even panic attacks.

After a particularly dark freshman year of high school, Ava came to the realization that her obsession with good grades had become an idol. At Bear Lake Camp, she realized she had a divided heart and her idolatry was supplanting faith in Christ. She did an about face, changed schools, changed her mindset, even changed her career path to studying the Bible and art, things a smart person just doesn’t do! It all comes to a head when Ava forgoes her graduation speech as valedictorian, fruit of a new heart.

See what happens when Ava gives her burden of perfection to the Lord, gets an undivided heart, and pursues Jesus full on as a biblical studies major at Wheaton College

This episode would be encouraging for those battling anxiety or perfectionist tendencies, showing them steps to freedom in Christ.

Helpful Links:

The Bible Project

Bear Lake Camp

Wheaton College

Wheaton College Biblical and Theological Studies major

The Humble Skeptic Podcast

OneWay Internship Program (it’s awesome)

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111: Valedictorian Skips Speech, Gains Peace Instead, Ava Ward