I entered the Catholic Church as an infant on July 30, 1990. I spent the next 18 years of my life in Kelso, MO with my family. After finishing high school, I attended Missouri State University where I studied Cell and Molecular Biology. I was then accepted to UMKC School of Dentistry, where my faith began to grow due to my encounters with Kansas City's, City on A Hill Young Adult Ministry. These young adult Catholics seemed to be on fire for the faith and I wanted to join them! After finishing Dental School in Kansas City, I moved to Chesterfield, Missouri. While working as a Dentist in Wentzville, MO, I also began ministering to the young adult population in the Archdiocese of St. Louis. Here I found a love for starting ministries and accompanying men and women through their young adult years. While at an Encounter night at Incarnate Word Parish, with Eucharistic Adoration, I finally encountered the person of Jesus. During this encounter, I felt Jesus inviting me to be open to coming to the seminary. At first I was resistant, but after a couple months of prayer, spiritual direction with Fr. Schroeder, and daily reception of the Eucharist, I eventually responded to the Lord's call to enter the seminary.