• Alysa Michelle Meisterling
• 22 years old
• Bachelor of Arts in Journalism
• Born in Livonia, Michigan
• Raised in Murrieta, California
• Attended Belmont University in Nashville, Tennessee

I’m a girl of simple character. I enjoy the simple things in life. I have a fascination with music, coffee, candles, black and white photographs, birdhouses, journals, people and the World. A World map hangs above my bed to remind me of all the places I have been and all the places I have yet to visit. It is what reminds me that home is wherever I choose to make it, and that has yet to be discovered.

My past has molded and shaped me into the woman I am. My father died of a heart condition called an Aortic Stenosis when I was two years old, and my mom was eight months pregnant with my brother. At a young age, I learned that life never goes the way you plan. I learned independence, strength and courage from the beautiful woman who raised me and without her, I do not know where I would be today. Growing up, I invested my time in my family, friends and music. Between the voice recitals, competitions, plays and events, there was never a dull moment.

In middle school, I became super involved in my youth group’s worship team and volunteer programs, and the summer after my freshman year in high school, I went to Tijuana, Mexico with my church for a week and built houses for families in need. In high school, I was involved in the school’s Associated Student Government, choir, and swim team. The summer before my senior year in high school, I went on a two and a half week vacation to Europe with my grandparents. We visited Rome, Italy, Croatia, France, and Spain.

While applying to colleges, I found Belmont University because of their location in Nashville, Tennessee and their outstanding music school. Not long after I got to Nashville, I took a different direction in my career path and switched my major to Journalism. While at Belmont, I joined Alpha Sigma Tau sorority, maintained a retail job for three of my years there, immersed myself in the community and volunteer opportunities and spent a semester abroad in Queensland, Australia. I have no regrets in everything I have done and was blessed to be a part of. My past is me, and for that I am forever grateful. This journey I am about to partake on is the beginning of a new chapter in my life. Having just graduated from Belmont University, I want to utilize all I have learned and all I have become and share that with the World. Ghana is my Chapter One. Ghana is my beginning.