Interview with Annie Downs!
This interview is the first in a multipart series with Annie Downs. For more background info on Annie, please visit the 20-somethings page. We will be checking in with Annie each month to follow her progress as she attempts to live out her dreams…What does a typical day (including work) look like in your life at the moment?
A typical day? What's that? :) Usually I get up around 5:30am, get ready for school, have breakfast and a BIG cup of coffee then spend some time in the Word. I teach 4th grade, so I'm at school from 7am-3pm. After that, truly each day is different- some days I go walking with my 2 best friends, some days I take a nap (So sue me. 5:30am is early!), some days I hang out with high schoolers from our youth group. My family lives in close, so I try to see them as well, either after school or for dinner. I LOVE eating dinner with friends, so that takes up many nights. (Let's just say they know me by name at the local burrito restaurant.) I also try to set aside time to write each week.
What would you describe as your dream for your life?
I have a hard time making this a singular answer. There are multiple dreams I'm pursuing right now, while praying and ask God to refine those dreams and mold my life into what His dream is for me. But I would have to say that, aside from marriage and a family, my biggest dream is to become a published writer and speaker. (I also dream of having someone clean my house every day so I don't have to do it, but I don't think that's the kind of dream that you are looking for.) :)
I have a hard time making this a singular answer. There are multiple dreams I'm pursuing right now, while praying and ask God to refine those dreams and mold my life into what His dream is for me. But I would have to say that, aside from marriage and a family, my biggest dream is to become a published writer and speaker. (I also dream of having someone clean my house every day so I don't have to do it, but I don't think that's the kind of dream that you are looking for.) :)
What steps are you currently taking to pursue this dream?
For writing, I read A LOT. I read magazines where free lance writers are hired, I read magazine websites where they publish freelancers (Radiant Magazine, Relevant Magazine), I read books about writing and by writers I respect. I send article ideas to different magazines and try to get published. I also shamelessly self-promote. :) Whenever an article gets published, I tell EVERYONE. (I think the produce guy at the grocery store is a little over it.) One of the main ways to make it in writing and speaking is to get your name out there- so I talk to everyone about wanting to write. I've recently submitted a manuscript to a publisher that I got connected with by a mutual friend. It's all about telling people how awesome you are. :) Same goes for speaking- I tell all the teachers, youth pastors, students, etc. that I know that I would be happy to speak at their FCA or chapel or whatever. And it's honestly not just about the exposure (though that's nice) - it's what I LOVE to do, so any opportunity, I'll take!
For writing, I read A LOT. I read magazines where free lance writers are hired, I read magazine websites where they publish freelancers (Radiant Magazine, Relevant Magazine), I read books about writing and by writers I respect. I send article ideas to different magazines and try to get published. I also shamelessly self-promote. :) Whenever an article gets published, I tell EVERYONE. (I think the produce guy at the grocery store is a little over it.) One of the main ways to make it in writing and speaking is to get your name out there- so I talk to everyone about wanting to write. I've recently submitted a manuscript to a publisher that I got connected with by a mutual friend. It's all about telling people how awesome you are. :) Same goes for speaking- I tell all the teachers, youth pastors, students, etc. that I know that I would be happy to speak at their FCA or chapel or whatever. And it's honestly not just about the exposure (though that's nice) - it's what I LOVE to do, so any opportunity, I'll take!
What scares you the most about pursuing this dream?
Running my mouth and then not having anything to show for it. :) Telling people, "Hey! Here's my dream! I'm trying to get there!" and then having them watch and it never pans out. But I think part of the fun of being a dreamer AND a Christian is that God enjoys the fact that we're willing to go for it. I think that makes Him smile. And He meets me there- in that place of dreaming, and loves me. My other fear would be misrepresenting Christ. Saying something or doing something, that makes people question His heart or His character. That would be awful.
What is your next short-term (one month) goal for pursuing this dream?
I just sent out that manuscript, so my short-term goal is to pray myself silly that it will get published by that company!! :) I'm speaking at that camp in Scotland in 3 weeks, so right now my focus is on the talks there- preparing those and making sure they are funny and smart and meaningful. But in the next month, I also hope to have an article written for either a print magazine or online magazine.
You are leaving for a missions trip to Scotland in a few weeks. Tell us a little about that.
Oh, I am SO excited! Scotland is a country that is beautiful and RICH in history, but many people there lack the experience of a life-changing encounter with God! Our team is going over to host a camp for middle and high school students. We have planned the whole thing- from the pamphlet design to the speaker to the t-shirts to the messy games that are found at every summer camp. We have been praying and fasting and really seeking God about His plans for the trip. I've been on a mission trip to Scotland once before and I LOVED it. I didn't want to come home! So don't be surprised if my next interview is about how I sold my house and my car and had my belongings shipped to me in Edinburgh! (Ok, probably not. But I really like it.) PRAY for us. Pray for me as I speak and interact with the students- that God would shine bright into their lives and change them permanently.
Is there anything else you would like to share in your first blog interview?
Running my mouth and then not having anything to show for it. :) Telling people, "Hey! Here's my dream! I'm trying to get there!" and then having them watch and it never pans out. But I think part of the fun of being a dreamer AND a Christian is that God enjoys the fact that we're willing to go for it. I think that makes Him smile. And He meets me there- in that place of dreaming, and loves me. My other fear would be misrepresenting Christ. Saying something or doing something, that makes people question His heart or His character. That would be awful.
What is your next short-term (one month) goal for pursuing this dream?
I just sent out that manuscript, so my short-term goal is to pray myself silly that it will get published by that company!! :) I'm speaking at that camp in Scotland in 3 weeks, so right now my focus is on the talks there- preparing those and making sure they are funny and smart and meaningful. But in the next month, I also hope to have an article written for either a print magazine or online magazine.
You are leaving for a missions trip to Scotland in a few weeks. Tell us a little about that.
Oh, I am SO excited! Scotland is a country that is beautiful and RICH in history, but many people there lack the experience of a life-changing encounter with God! Our team is going over to host a camp for middle and high school students. We have planned the whole thing- from the pamphlet design to the speaker to the t-shirts to the messy games that are found at every summer camp. We have been praying and fasting and really seeking God about His plans for the trip. I've been on a mission trip to Scotland once before and I LOVED it. I didn't want to come home! So don't be surprised if my next interview is about how I sold my house and my car and had my belongings shipped to me in Edinburgh! (Ok, probably not. But I really like it.) PRAY for us. Pray for me as I speak and interact with the students- that God would shine bright into their lives and change them permanently.
Is there anything else you would like to share in your first blog interview?
I guess a disclaimer is that I'm trying to be brave and live my dream but it isn't always easy. Especially now that everyone out there is reading this and knows that I'm pursuing something that is bigger than what I can do in my own strength. :) So we all (myself included) will just keep watching and praying and expecting God to show up in a BIG way.
I think it is important to note that after completing this interview Annie had to rush outside and participate in something called “The Bubble Olympics” with her students. What in the world are Bubble Olympics? Oh, the joys of elementary school…
If you would like to join Annie in being one of our featured 20-somethings please visit the 20-somethings page to learn how.
Come back next week for an interview with our next featured 20-something, Krishana Kraft.
I think it is important to note that after completing this interview Annie had to rush outside and participate in something called “The Bubble Olympics” with her students. What in the world are Bubble Olympics? Oh, the joys of elementary school…
If you would like to join Annie in being one of our featured 20-somethings please visit the 20-somethings page to learn how.
Come back next week for an interview with our next featured 20-something, Krishana Kraft.
posted by Shannon at 9:32 AM
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