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One of the biggest challenges I’m facing right now is the pressure to meet expectations—both my own and those that others have for me. It often feels like I’m constantly trying to juggle my goals, responsibilities, and the fear of not measuring up. This pressure usually leads to me being stressed, making it tough to find peace and confidence in my choices. I’m also dealing with a lot of uncertainty about the future, especially when it comes to making decisions that align with my values while still aiming for success. The fear of making the wrong choices or not reaching my potential is something that weighs heavily on me.

To help carry these burdens, I’m asking for the grace to trust and surrender to God’s plan, even when I don’t see the full picture. I need the strength to trust that He has a purpose for me, the patience to get through difficult times without losing heart, and the wisdom to make decisions that bring me closer to the life He wants for me. Most of all, I’m seeking the peace that comes from knowing He’s with me, and that He’ll guide me through whatever comes next.

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Currently I am carrying the cross of doubt in both my abilities and my life decisions. I am experiencing tough decisions in my life which involve choosing and planning for my future career while keeping in mind my current financial stability. Although I plan to do whatever I can to achieve meaning and success, I find it hard to entrust these problems with the Lord.

Knowing this, I believe that I need the Lord’s wisdom and guiding hand to still my anxious heart. Although, I have to take initiative to achieve my plans and make decisions for myself I still need to trust God that he will help me in my endeavors. His assurance of His perfect plans in Jeremiah 29:11 is what I embrace to keep me from being anxious and worried.

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As an only child, I carry a significant burden of expectations and responsibilities. I've often seen myself as the "retirement plan" or "investment" for my family, especially my mother, as they rely on me to achieve my dreams and, in turn, fulfill theirs. This pressure makes me anxious about getting high grades and being the ideal child, to the point where even a small failure feels like a major disappointment. I often feel isolated and find that I need to carefully consider every decision because I don't feel fully free to pursue my own interests.

To embrace and overcome my cross, I ask for the Lord's grace to give me strength and courage to face my challenges head-on. I pray to heal my anxious heart and help me get the freedom I desire. I also seek serenity to manage my anxiety and stress, finding calm amidst the chaos. Finally, I need guidance and support to stay focused on my goals and values, especially in moments of doubt in order for me to reach my dreams.

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As someone who has taken on several responsibilities at the same time, one of the biggest crosses I am carrying is balancing all these responsibilities sufficiently. In line with this, it can be quite overwhelming knowing that many of my actions, if not completed well, can have large effects on people outside of myself, so this sense of pressure also serves as another cross that I carry. As such, I would like to entrust these crosses to the Lord who can strengthen me in my endeavors.

With this, I am in need of the graces of strength, perseverance, and self-compassion from the Lord. In order to overcome my struggles, there is a need to have a sense of mental fortitude that allows me to push forward, especially in my tasks that aim to serve others. But more than this, I believe that I am in need of self-compassion as this is what may "recharge" me and reignite my spark amidst difficult trials.

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I am carrying the cross of embracing the significant challenge of being independent during my Junior Term Abroad next semester, should I be accepted. To prepare, I have been seeking advice from classmates who have already experienced JTA, learning from their insights about what to expect before, during, and after the program. If accepted, I know that venturing away from my family and friends to embark on this new journey overseas will be a vastly different experience from what I have known at Ateneo. I ask the Lord for the grace, courage, and resilience to face this new chapter with an open heart and mind. I also seek the grace of wisdom to make sound decisions in unfamiliar situations and the grace of peace to find comfort in solitude, knowing that I am never truly alone in His presence.

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Right now, I am struggling with finding my vocation: my purpose, my future career, my place, my talent. I don't know if I am doing well enough and I'm still unsure on what I should be working towards. I still lack a sense of identity and knowing what I want or what the Lord is calling me to.

I am in need of guidance, assurance, a voice to tell me where I need to be. While I hope to achieve my short-term goals, I also hope to discover what exactly my long-term or lifelong goals are. I pray for God to give me peace of mind and embrace me for who I am right now and who I will be in the future

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Growing up, I dealt with a lot of expectations to always excel in every aspect of my life, most especially academically/professionally. This has pressured me to do well but also makes me really anxious and worried about everything that I do. I would often be compared to others who would do better, causing me to develop the same bad habit of comparing myself to others and their accomplishments. Although I know that I am working hard and doing quite well so far, there’s always this feeling of inadequacy that I am still not doing enough. However, even if I want to do more, there is only so much time and energy left to do these things. I am already balancing my academics with numerous extra-curriculars, but I feel like I have to do more to further my career.

With this, I hope that God continues to give me the strength to power through each day and face all the challenges life brings. I know that I am capable of excelling and there is so much in store for me, but I need the support to keep on going when times get tough. May the Lord help me stay grounded so that I may achieve my goals one step at a time. Lastly, I ask for the courage to face all my fears and anxieties that often paralyze me from taking risks.

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There's currently a lot of instability financially and emotionally at home. At times, I feel more pressured to make things better for the family-- in both big and small ways. It's difficult figuring out where my responsibility over the home environment ends and where the space to let others play their part begins.

Thus, I continue to trust in God to give me the grace to feel more secure in my needs and space-- learning to set boundaries and take care of my end of the bargain without overcompensating in my relationships. By growing into a stronger, more secure person, I can then stand to pursue the things I seek to achieve.

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I am guilty of having unhealthy habits. Recently, I have decided to turn myself around to better myself so that I might enjoy the rest of college without being overwhelmed by anxiety. However, I am afraid of 'relapsing' and failing myself.

I hope that God continues to send instruments of His love at my way such as in the form of my friends and family who are my support group that never fail to alleviate my fears and doubts. Furthermore, I pray that He might give me the courage to accept all the opportunities He gives me. I, in return, would do my best to not let His gifts go to waste.

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I'm doing my best to balance the work I’m putting into my self-development, both in my career and my studies. I know there’s value in what I’m doing, but there are times when I feel stuck, like my progress has hit a wall, and it’s hard to stay motivated.

I ask for God's grace to help me trust and surrender to His plan, especially when I can’t see where it’s leading. I ask the Lord to give me the strength to believe that He has a purpose for me, the patience to keep going even when things get tough, and the wisdom to make decisions that bring me closer to the life He wants for me. More than anything, I need the peace of knowing that He's right here with me, guiding me through whatever comes next.

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I think I carry the cross of doing everything I can to be the best version of myself for my loved ones even if it meant pushing myself to the very extremes and compromising myself. I want to be the best so that I can give the ones I love what they deserve. Because of this, I impose a lot of self-pressure and try to really do everything perfectly. I wish that God could come into my life and just relieve me of the pressure that I have imposed to myself and allow me to live freely and more lovingly towards myself.

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Para sa akin, bilang isang taong may kapansanan, maraming akong dinadala; pag-aaral, paghahanap ng mga mabubuting kaibigan, pakikisama sa pamilya, buhay pag-ibig, pagtingin ng tao sa sariling kapansanan, kahit ano dinadala ko siya. Kumbaga, hindi ko na matutukoy kung ano ang kaligayahan na makamit ng sariling inaasam. Kahit anong kasiyahan o pagiging tagumpay, mahirap sa ganang "makasarili" ang inyong kilos ng pagaabot-tanaw sa sarili. Minsan nawawala na ako sa landas ng tatahakin na kailangan ko muna magpahinga, pero ang pagpapahinga raw ay isang kahinaan. Mahirap tanggihin. Mahirap bawiin. Mahirap harapin ang mga pagpasya sa oras na imposibleng bumalik.

Sa pananawagan sa maykapal, ako ay umaasa sa Kaniya, alang-alang sa amin. Siya ang nagbubuo sa pakikipagkapwa at sa tulong na itaas ang pagiging sarili sa talagang totoong nangyayari. Ang paraan na ito ay posibleng makatulong sa mga krus/bagaheng dinadala.

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One significant cross I'm carrying right now, which I wish to entrust to the Lord, is being miles away from home. Living independently has been both a challenge and a growth experience. Every day, I have to think for myself—deciding what to eat, preparing my meals, and managing all the responsibilities that come with living alone. It’s not just about the practicalities; it’s also the emotional aspect of not having anyone close by to talk to about my day, to share my thoughts and feelings, or to offer comfort when I need it most. This isolation can be overwhelming at times, and it’s in these moments that I feel the weight of being far from the people I love.

Another cross I carry is the guilt and emotional conflict of having turned down a good person. The decision was difficult, and while I believe it was the right choice, it doesn’t erase the feelings of guilt and the questioning of whether I could have handled things differently. This weighs heavily on my heart, adding to the emotional burdens I’m already carrying.

In the midst of these challenges, I find solace in the Lord’s presence. Just being in His presence helps me acknowledge these difficulties, and that acknowledgment itself gives me strength. It’s as though I can lay my burdens at His feet, and in return, I receive the motivation to keep moving forward. I trust that by entrusting these crosses to Him, I will find the courage and resilience I need to navigate this season of my life.

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My most important challenge right now is thinking about how I can ensure my family's well-being in the future. As the only heir to everyone in my direct family, they ask to make sure that I can protect the legacy that they'll leave to me. They ask that I take care of everyone when they become old and retire. Even if I willingly partake in their requests, I still have doubts in my mind on whether I could help them and make them happy since I'm not confident at how I could handle bigger things. I'm afraid that I might get trapped in the machine, left unhappy and unable to fulfill my own desires.

I ask the Lord for wisdom and determination to light the way towards the future. I ask for hope that I might not lead myself into despair and the strength to accept that I can handle things, and that I can take care of my family. I pray that my heart can still find happiness in the world even if I might be forced to give up other dreams. I know life will always have hardships and difficult decisions, but knowing that God is there, I would feel peace.

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At this point in my life, I'm in a state of uncertainty with what I want to do and what form my action should take. I've taken up several roles aligned towards growing my personal advocacy, but I don't find full confidence that I can take them on to the degree I wish to do so; nonetheless, I can't complain about having too much on my plate when my goal was to eat. The pressure from myself and the people around me to actualize my duties and my service in this whirlwind weighs on me, and on top of this is the pressure I feel as a scholar working for a future I can finally feel confident in for my family.

Now I see that I need the strength and energy to pull through for my orgs and my academics, as well as the wisdom to grasp the form that will take and the confidence to actually step up, even if over and over again, and form a genuine connection with what I have been carried to do.

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Just my overall growth and development are what I struggle with, which I imploringly entrust to the Lord. More specifically, I have troubles with most of my responsibilities, whether it be in academics, co-curriculars, family, etc., as well as discipline such as giving time to hobbies so that I can advance or physical goals. To be fair to myself, I feel I am doing better than when I was younger, but I also feel that at this point in my life, I should have been able to master some things already. I know a lyric from a song that describes me well, and it goes "I'm a [bad] son, and I'm bad at growing up."

Thus, I pray and ask of the Lord for His continued guidance. I know I'm able to do things, as I've done great things in the past, but I often get lost in the metaphorical sense. I ask that I'll be able to know what to do when times become overwhelming and when no one, or so it feels that way, is there for me.

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Growing up, I have constantly been reminded of the nine-month burden my mother has gone through to put me out into this world. Simply by being my mother's daughter, I had to abide by the rules imposed on me and my sisters to simply earn her approval. Because of this, I could never be truly honest with my feelings nor even myself when I am greeted with solitude. Since then, I masqueraded my whole life putting on a façade, living in constant fear that if I fall too short on anyone's expectations, I would no longer be loved.

I humbly ask the Lord to grant me the grace to overcome these unsettling fears and worries that exist within me. With a heavy heart, I ask him to make my burdens feel much lighter with each passing day to ground myself better with my own two feet. This I ask all for the greater honor and glory of God.

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The cross that I carry are the responsibilities that I have to my family, to my group mates, and to the commitments I have. At times, it gets overwhelming having everyone looking at you for guidance and action. It gets overwhelming being expected to learn new things and be perfect at it right away. But I know that entrusting it to the Lord will give me the guidance and confidence to do well in wherever I am.

The grace that I need from the Lord is guidance, strength, and protection. I ask for guidance that I may be led to and through the path that He has for me, no matter how difficult, challenging, or painful. I ask for strength to walk with His guidance through all the positives and negatives that I may encounter. I ask for protection that I may be kept safe from those that would try to lead me astray from what He has in store for me.

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A cross I am carrying right now is struggles with thesis. My thesis partner and I are currently navigating our way through finalizing our thesis topic and I feel very lost, confused, and anxious with the amount of time left until our topic defense. I would love to have some clarity and moral support from the Lord, may it be through the people He allows us to cross paths with or the people He brings to us to show us love and compassion.

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I guess like most college students, I question my choice of course a lot. I stress about what the future holds for me and what I should start doing now to ensure my success in the future.

I am not the most religious person, but I do believe in God. In a way, I do trust that I will be successful in whatever path I choose or end up in after university. I trust in His plan for me and I pray that he gives me grace, assurance, and clarity regarding my future. I pray that He takes away any anxiety and fear I have.

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Some of the crosses that I am carrying now are those feelings of doubts and expectations when it comes to fulfilling my future role in the household and in terms of my academics. At times, it is difficult to find motivation to continue with what I am supposed to do; thus, giving me feelings of doubt that I can actually accomplish them or do them in a way that will make my parents proud. With these feelings, often, small factors that may not go the ‘right’ way will make me overthink and uncertain about whether or not I am meant to do a certain thing.

To help me carry my crosses, I ask God for guidance and the strength to persevere and continue to find the motivation to do what I love and want to do. I hope that God will help me find the right path in life and make the right choices in life; finding the support and peace I need from those around me.

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Dearest Lord,

I currently bear the cross of struggling to balance schoolwork and maintaining good relationships with friends and family. I am in the process of trying to improve my studying and working habits since I tend to lack focus and panic towards the deadlines of my tasks. This constantly makes me feel anxious, hindering me from spending time with friends or family because I do not feel productive. What makes me feel worse is that there is the uncertainty of not knowing how to fix my habit and find the right motivations to push me forward. There are little rewards I can look forward to, but I am always in fear that I do not have a clear direction in life or a main goal that I can work towards.

I humbly come to you Lord for your guidance in battling these struggles. As I tend to lose focus, I ask for your help not to be led astray by temptations and to find this main goal and direction in life. I understand that the process of finding this goal is not easy, but I will patiently wait for your call to me that will bring me closer to you. I trust that despite how difficult life gets, your grace will always be with me and I am not alone in this struggle. Please do not let me be a burden to my loved ones, and I hope to make them and most importantly you proud.

Amen.

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Dear Lord,

I come to you today because I am filled with uncertainties and anxieties about my future and about myself currently. I have always felt the need to succeed, and because of that, I am pushing myself to the point where my mind and my body are mentally exhausted and I feel my relationships with family and friends deteriorate. Being hyper-conscious and overly critical of myself has also lead me to compare with others and self-sabotage. I pray to you know because I want my anxieties to be lifted.

Often, I cry out about just wanting to be happy. It hurts to reflect on my life and all its blessings and think to myself how unhappy I am. I want to have a positive mindset about life but I do not know why my brain positions in me in pain and suffering. I come to you tired and feeling broken. The worst instances, Lord, are when I feel alone--because I feel the most harrowing thoughts of being unwanted, unhappy, and most disappointingly, unloved.

Lord, grant me the grace of introspection and kindness to myself. Let me feel the love that radiates around me and dispel my fears. I know I am not perfect, that is my cross to bear, but hold me in your arms and help me realize that love exists within and throughout me. Open my eyes to beauty, kindness, generosity, and most importantly, love.

This I pray to you O Lord Jesus Christ,

Amen.

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Only a about year away from my thesis and two years away from graduation, I am anxious about finding fulfillment as an adult. I know that the decisions I am making right now about my priorities and commitments will have great impacts on future opportunities and I fear making the wrong choices. I try my best to not get too caught up in overthinking and worries, but oftentimes, even when I try to choose a more relaxed and peaceful path, there’s a voice at the back of my head saying I am not doing enough to succeed and that the future me will hate me for it.

At this time, I ask for the guidance of God and the strength to persevere through the burnouts and mental stress. I pray for the courage to choose the path of peace and allow myself more experiences of joy and love, even if it means exposing myself to the possibility of getting hurt.

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One of the crosses that I am carrying right now is the pressure that I put on myself. I feel as if I am doing so many things that I get tired easily, but at the same time, I constantly think that I am not doing enough to secure a bright future for myself. Funnily enough, there is no reason for me to feel this way, but subconsciously I am nagging and pressuring myself. Maybe the idea of being independent has ingrained in me to be self-reliant a little too much. This is something that I have been "battling" on and off for the past years. -- perhaps my high expectations for myself stems from the fear that I will disappoint myself and the people around me.

And so, I constantly talk to the Lord and raise up my joys and sorrows; wins and struggles to Him. Though I know that He is always there for me with his unfailing kindness and unconditional love, I pray that He will never stop reaching out to me and give me strength, even when I falter in my courage and forget that I can always rely on Him.

Thank you, God. May You always hold my hand, be a lamp unto my feet, and a light upon my path. May You always silence the harsh winds and calm the stormy seas in my mind. May You help me have greater faith in Your plans for me to "prosper" and "give [me] a hope and a future." And may Your will, not mine, be done. Amen.

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One of the biggest challenges I have right now is to meet both personal and external expectations. There are moments where I struggle to balance everything I have going on in my life and it leads to constant pressure that make me overthink everything. It makes me feel as if I am unable to live up to the expectations of others. In some cases, I feel as if I am unable to align my actions with deeper values. All these pile up on me and put constant pressure on myself.

To entrust these crosses to the Lord, I am seeking the grace of clarity and patience--clarity to understand the path ahead of me and patience to endure all the challenges that come with it. Additionally, the grace of surrender would be crucial, helping me to let go of the need to control everything going on in my life and to trust in the greater plan of the Lord. Finally, the grace of perseverance would be essential, enabling the strength to continue moving forward, even when it becomes too difficult. All these graces would help me in overcoming and embracing my crosses, turning them into opportunities for growth and deeper connection with the Lord.

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As of writing this entry, one of the crosses I carry with me is my uncertainty of the future. I still cannot believe that I am already a 3rd year student in Ateneo, which means I am close to be a fully working adult after graduation. Even with that in mind, I am still not sure of who I want to be even though I am surrounded by a multitude of opportunities or paths that I could take moving forward.

With that, I would like to ask from the Lord to give me clarity so that I may know what I want, even if that path could be entirely different from what I aspire to be. I know that the Lord has laid down a definite path for me to follow and I wish to know what that path is so that I can begin treading it down to fully realize my potential as a human being.

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Some of the biggest crosses that I have right now are being able to fulfill/reach expectations set by my family and friends. These come from academics, org life, work, and leadership roles that aim to give back to the family. Although surface level, these crosses come with many instances of anxiety and defeat. The uncertainty brought about by these tend to lead me away from the path God planned for me. Hence, this is something I wish to entrust to Him.

The most important grace I need is courage. I believe that this will encourage me to face my biggest battles, regardless of how stressful it may be. The purpose of these crosses, or struggles, is to form my character. So, in a way, I see them as blessings as well. Courage allows me to be willing to march up against uncertainty and follow the path God set for me. It may seem terrifying, but it is what can help me reach my full potential as a human in His community.

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Pressure, in many different ways, is the cross that I am currently bearing. As a first-born, the figure of role model inevitably rests on my shoulder and I am expected to always put my best forward. As a student, I have imposed the pressure to do well and excel on myself. And as a junior, the pressure of after-college life begins to dawn on me too. It is easy for me to get lost in my thoughts and these pressures that I and others impose on me. To entrust them to the Lord is a big step, but it can lighten the weight of these crosses that I have to bear.

I seek wisdom, guidance, and strength from the Lord to overcome these crosses. To see them not as mere weights that overwhelm and consume me little by little, but as valuable crosses that I can bear and will allow me to grow. I hope to find comfort and companionship through prayer because I am never alone in carrying these crosses as He is always with me.

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Hi! I think that one of the crosses I carry right now is a sort of intrapersonal conflict I have about my parents' relationship. As I grew older, I started to see and notice the patchy relationship my parents now have. It hurts to realize how much they changed throughout the years and I feel like there is not much I can do, but stay silent and pretend everything is normal between them. However, it's still difficult to do so as what happens between them affects me as well, especially since I'm an only child and have no one else who can relate to me in the family. I try hard to understand my parents, but I also can't help but feel frustrated because I feel like there is no more hope. I sometimes wish that everyone would be better off in separate ways, but I just remind myself that others have it worse than I (which is pretty toxic as well). From this, I wish that God gives me the strength to share what I feel to my parents to hopefully rebuild their relationship. Similarly, I hope that God reminds my parents of the love they once shared and the deeply buried care they have for one another :>

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One of the crosses I carry with me is my social anxiety. As someone who is socially extroverted, I used to feel happy when I am interacting with other people. But now, I tend to overthink a lot and be nervous when there are people around. I also tend to go back to unhealthy coping mechanisms such as isolating myself from others. Furthermore, it is very difficult to explain to other people what I am feeling, and I feel like no one understands me.

With that, I would like to ask from the Lord to give me peace of mind and wisdom in order to be calm in those kinds of situations. I am asking for him to help me in being there for myself whenever I feel like I am dissociating, and it would really be nice to have someone who is willing to listen and understand.

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The biggest cross I am carrying right now is probably my future. It frightens me to think that how my future will go is actually up to my decisions right now. I am at a critical stage of my life. Almost graduating, going out of the familiar structured life the academia has imposed, and actually finding my place in the world. It's hard to do that with a world so big. I can never be sure on what my future will bring. Hence, I am entrusting this to the Lord. I know that He has his will for me and I shall follow through it. I shall seek what God gifted me to be.

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A cross that I am carrying now that I wish to entrust to God is the pressure to do well in my academics and in the different aspects of my life. I am often grade-conscious and anxious about the things my peers don't get worried about. My physical and mental health suffers from this cross, and the only time I can get rest is during vacation breaks. I feel that this cross brings me away from the mission that God already planned for me, which is why I want to entrust this to Him. Likewise, I am also unsure about what career I will be taking in the future because I'm afraid to think much about what lies ahead of me.

I would need the grace of peace of mind and the strength to push through with all my challenges in life, for my crosses to feel lighter. I also pray that He give me the courage and wisdom to discover and actualize His plans for my life.

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I'm currently carrying the cross of loneliness and abandonment, something I've been dealing with since I was a little kid. I've always been isolated from most people, and I've always wondered if there was something fundamentally wrong with me that prevents people from sticking and if so, what is that "wrong" thing that I could change?

I don't believe in a God, but if there ever truly is one, then I would need their help in discerning what's wrong with me. Or to at least have the knowledge and closure as to why people never really stuck with me.

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As I start my third year in college, I feel like I have bitten a lot more than I can chew in terms of the responsibilities I have committed to for the school year. While my passion fuels me to do the things that I currently do, I am afraid that the time will come when I resent doing these responsibilities that were birthed out of my willingness to serve not only myself, but to the communities I want to leave an impact on. Having a lot of people look up to me adds a lot of pressure, as someone who constantly feels like I have been doing worse than others would usually do in my position.

Therefore, I ask for the Lord's presence even in the smallest of things. May He continue to manifest Himself within my surroundings: through my works, personal items, friends, and colleagues. May He show Himself at times when my mind feels like it's not ready to continue on, and may He guide me in fueling the burning passion that is so close to being extinguished. His will may be done in any way He pleases through my actions.

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One of the crosses that I am carrying now is dealing with my personal relationships, particularly how to find the balance between being selfish and selfless. I grew up trying to please people in any way that I could, as I found fulfillment from people's validation. Hence, most of the time, I prioritize other people's feelings over my own, especially when it comes to making decisions that affect not just me. I find difficulty in knowing how to weigh my feelings and other people's feelings and in looking for a way where both our feelings will be considered (a decision where the least number of people will get hurt).

I ask for the Lord's grace in making decisions and helping me maintain the relationships I've built. Giving myself enough time to reflect, weighing the pros and cons, and asking for his guidance for whatever decision I make will help me to lighten the weight that this cross carries. Ultimately, if I find myself in the path of despair and disappointment, I entrust myself wholeheartedly to the Lord, for He knows what's in store for me better than anyone else.

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A cross I am carrying right now is the amount of year-long commitments I have subjected myself to this year. Being a college junior and batch representative for my organization, I am beginning to find troubles in seeking balance between work and life, in that I am spending less time to be with my family and friends, whether virtually (via call) or physically (by paying visits). While this was something I knew I signed myself into from the moment I discerned about these commitments, I never realized the difficulty of balancing all these until I was actually thrown into the position to do all the duties expected of me.

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I am currently carrying the cross of being uncertain regarding my life choices and career path. I feel quite overwhelmed lately, doubting whether the choices I've made and are about to make are right for me.

Lord, kindly provide me the strength and courage to approach this uncertainty. Calm my thoughts as I make life-changing decisions.

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As the youngest child, one of the crosses I carry is that I've become an overachiever, which passed on from grade school to high school to now in college. I think that because my siblings didn't really choose the path my parents wanted them to take, I was given the final task of fulfilling such (which is pursuing a STEM-related field). However as I finished my freshman year in college, I realized this was not the path I wanted to take and decided to shift to a Fine Arts course. Though my parents say they support me, I can sense the disappointment that they have knowing I failed to fulfill their want of having a child in STEM. Thus I have this constant pressure of trying to prove myself that I belong to my course, that I have a future in this course. Now that I'm in my final year, I've been getting mixed feelings about whether or not I made the right decision or if I should've pursued a different course, given that I started gaining interests in different fields throughout my experiences in college.

To embrace and overcome my cross, I ask for the Lord's wisdom and guidance in keeping me towards the right path and granting me the courage and determination to fulfill my passion and seek the right future that I deserve. It may not be clear to me now whether I have a future, but I want the Lord to keep encouraging me that every day is another day to make that future clearer.

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As of now, I am dealing with a large mental health crisis. Everyday, I wake up and feel nothing but gloom and sadness. It is as if I am unable to feel happiness and contentment in each passing day. Oftentimes, it reaches the point that even a single unfortunate event can ruin my mood throughout a given day and leave me in an extended state of sorrow. Regardless of whether it is the pressures I face from academics or the perpetuating thoughts of love ones I lost, I believe that the various negative experiences that plagued my life has contributed to this problem of mine. This is the cross I carry now, and I hope that by surrendering my problems to the lord, I shall reach a resolution that will allow me to live happily once more.

To be able to surpass this problem, I believe that I would need God to actively communicate with me and give me signs of assurance that everything will be ok. Perhaps by being able to experience God's presence, my internal sorrows will be calmed. Moreover, I also ask that God give me the resilience to keep pushing through in life so that I may endure each passing day in the hopes that perhaps one day I may find something that can wipe my tears away and bring light to my life once more.

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Throughout my life, I would say I have been carrying the cross of uncertainty and fear towards what the future holds upon me. I struggle with making critical decisions in my life, and I try to delay it as much as possible. This may be because I am unsure of my abilities and how I would hold up when life gets more serious, knowing how these important decisions will significantly influence the direction my life will head towards. Moreover, I realize how unmotivated I get towards this, as I may prioritize trivial things from time to time. With this self-doubt, lack of confidence, and indecisiveness, I learned to put my trust in God, as He has plans for me in which I aim to follow. God would plan His best for me and I will do the rest.

In order to overcome this, I ask of God to bestow upon me His gifts of wisdom and courage to gain the strength to tackle these burdens in my life. As a lingering feeling, I hope God may guide me in opening my eyes, and seeing my true vocation in life. In reality, I recall the times where I was fully motivated and had full belief in myself, so now I ask God to continue being present in my life, in knowing that I always have an ally.

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A cross I currently carry it the uncertainty of where I am headed concerning my vocation. I chose my course as I sensed where God was leading me. However, it seems like I am not given revelations of where I will be years from now. What I am being given are small steps to take in my every day, simple leadings and obediences. I am learning to trust God that He leads me right where He wants me to be, and embrace the uncertainty because I know that He loves me.

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The crosses I carry now include the pressure of balancing different responsibilities—with my acads, orgs, family, and personal goals. At times, I am also faced by the reality that I am getting older day by day, and adulthood is not something I am ready to face yet. So, most of the time, it feels like there's not enough time or energy for everything, and that oftentimes they feel like a burden or a big weight I carry around. I want to entrust these worries and anxieties to the Lord, asking for the grace of perseverance and peace. I need the grace of trust, to believe that even in the chaos, God is guiding me, and the strength to face each day with courage and faith.

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There is some sort of uncertainty and fear that is looming over my head as soon as third year arrived. Especially now, when we are required to have an internship and undergo thesis in the next few months/year, the looming feeling cannot be removed. I am not that confident in my working capabilities and being interviewed for jobs. Additionally, I am scared of doing thesis as I am unsure of what topic to choose and how thesis will affect the grades that I wan to achieve (especially since I would want to graduate with Latin honors).

To overcome this, I feel like I would need the Lord to present me with wisdom, courage and perseverance as I go carry these crosses in my daily lives. I entrust in the Lord to help me, but I also need to trust my abilities more as I have done so many things in the past, with the guidance of prayer and silent reflection.

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Currently, I am bearing the cross of pressure for my future. I often worry that many of my peers have done everything they can to maximize their potential, whether through multiple leadership positions in organizations, internships at reputable companies, or other accomplishments. This leaves me feeling small in comparison. This pressure pushes me to constantly exceed my limits, striving to do the same in the hope that it will be enough for the future. Given the competitiveness of the workforce, I also doubt whether I am as capable as my peers.

All I ask from the Lord is His guidance, so that everything I do is not only for my own good but also for my family and, hopefully, my community. I seek His assurance that I am indeed doing well, despite the struggles I face.

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A profound cross I carry now is one embedded in anxiety for what's to come, and what I might end up doing in my life. Surrounding me are peers who are seemingly much more accomplished than I am, and I often feel the necessity to catch up with everyone else-- often feeling I am behind. I worry that, as a third year student, I have a timer deliberately teasing me.

Having said such, I fervently ask God for guidance and strength as I continue to navigate through life. I hope that whichever path I may take, that it is a fulfilling and impactful one. There is much I have yet to know, and while that scares me, I truly believe God has a plan for me and a place for me in this world.