Hi! My name is Katy O’Neil. Katy is a nickname in itself for Kathryn, so I don’t really have too many nicknames.

I am originally from San Luis Obispo, California, which is almost exactly in the middle of Los Angeles and San Francisco on the coast. Right now, I live on campus as a second year student at Point Loma Nazarene University in San Diego. I am majoring in Child and Adolescent Development and really love school.

My parents agreed to pay for school, which is a huge blessing in my life. I currently do have two jobs though. I work as a tour guide for our admissions department, which means I essentially take prospective students around the campus and talk for an hour. My second job is a nanny for a one-year old boy. The family I work for is awesome and I love this little boy so much. I work ten hours a week or more for them. I really enjoy both of my jobs a lot.

I have been dancing (ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, etc.) for 11 years and recently started talking dance classes pretty seriously again. I auditioned for a spring show and got into some pieces, so I am currently rehearsing for that as well. I dance about 10 hours a week.

I am also involved with some things on my college campus. I live as a sophomore in a freshman girls’ dorm and absolutely love it. I live with three of my best friends and 18 other freshman girls, and am pretty involved with our hall and residential life. Weekly, my best friend leads a Bible study/ small group time for our hall that I go to as well. I am also involved in our Associated Student Body and helped plan our school’s homecoming events this year. Point Loma has an on-campus preschool that I volunteer at once a week where I get to hang out with 3 and 4-year olds; it’s a blast.

I attend a church in San Diego that I really love and used to help out in the nursery with. I had to take a temporary break from volunteering there because of the dance show I am in, but will return after the performances.

Because my school is literally on the cliffs of the Pacific Ocean, I love being outside and occasionally going on runs because it is right on the beach. Other than at Point Loma, I am not much of a runner. I also love watching TV shows on Netflix.

My friends and I are really into exploring San Diego and going on adventures. This past month, we have taken a road trip to a small town in the mountains, snuck onto an abandoned ship, watched airplanes go over our heads about 100 feet above us, hiked, gone “geocaching”, and climbed onto some roofs of my school buildings. We have a list of things we are trying to accomplish by the end of the semester! I am really blessed by my group of friends. I have three best girlfriends that I live with and they are amazing sisters in Christ. I have really grown from my relationships with them and we always have fun together.

My friends and I are also obsessed with this board game called Settlers of Catan. If you like it, we are already bonded. If you’ve never played, learn; it will change your life.

I really like eating. It’s almost a hobby for me. I also love coffee and coffee shops and can not wait to try coffee in Nicaragua! I have been drinking decaf coffee for a few months now though because I was a bit addicted to it. I love traveling and have had the privilege of going to a few different states and countries before. I love being around people; I may be one of the more outgoing people you have ever met. I thrive off fellowship.

I have been on one missions trip before, but I was thirteen. I went with my very close family friends and my immediate family to Guatemala with the Jesus Film. It was an awesome experience and really eye-opening for me.

I am really excited about living in Nicaragua. Like I mentioned before, I love traveling and going to new places. I can’t wait to immerse myself in the culture and see what God is going to do there. I am a bit nervous about what God is going to ask me to do; I have praying about the trip and know God is going to stretch me in ways that will take me out of my comfort zone. However, I know that He is going to do this to help me grow in relationship with Him. I am also a bit nervous about tarantulas; I will have to get used to that. I speak some Spanish and am also excited about becoming better at it. I know this is going to be an incredible trip and I can’t wait to meet you all soon!