My name is Seriah Porter, and this year, I was honored to be chosen as the MVP of H.O.P.E. During H.O.P.E, I felt as if I was able to let go of the old and focus on the new. I see this new chapter as a new beginning. I’ve always been raised as a Christian young lady, but now I was finally in the right mindset to allow myself to grow beyond what I had imagined because I know God is guiding me through all the pain, fear, and evil. During H.O.P.E, I was going through a lot, and I know God was showing me that even at my worst, I can still push through to an even bigger battle with Him by my side. Finally, giving my all to God, whether it’s through dance, singing, or even just sitting there crying and praying. I know God has my heart, mind, and soul, and He will lift me up from it all. I also believe attending H.O.P.E not only helped me focus on what my actual purpose was, but it also made me focus on my relationship with God. I believe people can have a wonderful experience by attending this conference, because when you are at H.O.P.E, you are family and surrounded by people you can feel safe around and not judged by.