RECONNECTion #3: Lana New

I was excited to talk to Lana. She and I had kept up over the years more than most on my Crosspoint 2000 team, so we wouldn’t be rehashing the last five years in like 20 minutes over the phone. Lana initially taught me that summer about the holiness of the moment, finding ways to change lives in an instant. She showed me that time is one of the best gifts someone can give. She also showed me that the rewards are always worth the risks.

To me, she was an example of independence. She was just a year older than me, but at a very different place in life. That summer, she was considering taking a year or so off of college, working, and finding out what she wanted to do in life. She ended up leaving her hometown, moving to Nashville, getting an apartment, a job - you know, growing up. And here I was that same year, doing stupid fraternity-guy stuff, studying American history and Biology 101, living in a dorm, eating with a meal plan, and never really having to worry about paying bills. But it is often differences and distances that make us admire people, and for me, Lana was no different.

Eventually, Lana had some pretty interesting jobs, some pretty interesting dates, and did graduate from college, which she considers one of the highlights of the last five years. The other watershed moment she just describes as “Tony,” who, as things continue to look promising, will be the man to fulfill all the dreams she dared to dream. Again, the risk is worth the reward.

Lana also taught me the importance of close family bonds that summer, and those bonds still grow strong with her parents, brother and sister. Professionally, she is looking to get into the world of events, hopefully in the nonprofit sector. She has never stopped dreaming and doing whatever is necessary to chase down those dreams. Her bold pursuit of her goals and hopes is very real as you talk with her, and one can do nothing but wish her the best.

I once thought it would be easy to spot Lana in a crowd because of her unique and vibrant red hair, but I have no doubt she will soon be the one to stand out for different reasons – reasons that we all hope we stand out for: dreaming big, acting bold, and leaving the rest up to life.