After being adopted, surviving stage 4 cancer, recovering from multiple addictions, and moving all around the world, Carol DeCoene was left carrying significant trauma into her adult life. The extreme circumstances life continually presented her with left her with a very limited sense of belonging, and led to deficits in both her mental and physical health. In Part 16, Carol will speak on how she overcame both the personal and public challenges of her life, the lessons it taught her along the way, and how she ultimately found her true identity.

Loretta Cerrone Palermo was born in Sora, Italy. Prior to her immigration to the US in 1947, Loretta survived typhoid fever, endured WWII, and grew up with a single mother as her father prepared for their arrival in the US. After arriving in America and climbing over a high language barrier at the age of 10, Loretta graduated from high school, got a job as a secretary, got married, and had 5 children. In Part 15, Loretta will speak on her life in Italy, the realities of being an immigrant in America, and how she overcame adversity and found a joyful life.

In October of 2017, Ariana Nelson applied to Grove City College on a dare. Given her upbringing, GCC seemed like an unlikely choice. While the decision to apply to GCC was made on a whim, the decision to attend was the product of careful consideration and proved to be profoundly transformative. In Part 14, Ariana will speak on her journey to GCC, the trials and victories it presented her with, how she learned to advocate for herself, and how One Story came to be.

After six years of longing to belong, Chris Ansberry started using. Eight years later, his parents found out, which not only placed a significant strain on his family but led to a year in and out of various rehabilitation facilities. Three months after his uncle introduced him to God, he got clean, went to college, got married, and ultimately earned a PhD. In Part 13, Chris will speak on his past, how he came to know God, and his journey in figuring out belonging.

After 3 years of bullying and sexual harassment, Gabbi Hickly planned her suicide. This left a lasting impression on her, and tragically led to a battle with anxiety, depression, and an eating disorder. In Part 12, Gabbi will speak on recognizing the humanity within each of us, the importance of maintaining and talking about mental health, and how she came to the realization that seeking help is not a weakness, but a strength.

After growing up in Vietnam, Kim Anh Le decided to move to the United States to attend high school. The prospect of experiencing a new culture was exciting for her, and, still to this day, experiencing sociocultural novelties is simultaneously the most joyful and difficult part of her transition here. In Part 11, Kim will speak on how she ended up at Grove City College and how having a Christian-American college experience has shaped her.

Matthew Ringwelski was diagnosed with very high-risk leukemia when he was 17. After coming to terms with the diagnosis, he completed three years of chemotherapy, and eventually finished treatment with a new outlook on life. In Part 10, Matthew will speak on the process of undergoing treatment, how his diagnosis impacted his relationship with God, and how living with cancer shaped him into the person he is today.

After 8 years in the closet, John Wishing realized his sexuality was not something he needed to hide. On March 8th, 2020, he came out publicly, and since then has been working to reconcile his sexuality and Christian faith. In Part 9, John will speak about his journey to coming out and the challenges he had to face to become the person he is today.

Mikaela Jenkins is a two-time 2021 Paralympic swimming champion. After 7 years of training, she earned a spot on the Tokyo 2021 Paralympic team and competed in 5 events. Mikaela’s journey to Tokyo began when the director of a Paralympic meet noticed her talent and willingness to work and encouraged her to commit to swimming full time. Although she was born with proximal femoral focal deficiency and had her left leg amputated at 8 months old, Mikaela thrived and now serves as an inspiration to those who have had to overcome similar obstacles. In Part 8, Mikaela will speak about her journey to swimming, defining her identity, and how she became a Paralympic champion.

Growing up in Haiti, Evenine Paultre’s father Jean placed a love of music within her. Jean’s love of music was so strong that when cancer claimed his life in 2012, Evenine knew that she would one day become a music teacher, and ultimately, a singer. Her work towards becoming a singer brought her to GCC in the fall of 2020, where she experienced novel obstacles – obstacles that never presented themselves in Haiti. In Part 7, Evenine will speak on moving forward after loss, trusting in yourself, what it feels like to belong, and what it means to be strong.