As someone who, technically, should still be completing high school, Johnna Belkiewietz has already lived a fuller life than many can ever hope to experience.
Belkiewietz graduated early from La Porte High School, taking her final semester off to enjoy life and challenge herself.
"I think graduating early has been a great opportunity for me and I definitely encourage others to do it. It's a chance for you to discover your passions and to pursue them," Belkiewietz said. "You have all of this time to do independent studies; I'm actually taking a couple of college courses online. I'm spending quality time with my friends and family so that I don't get burnt out before I get to college."
Belkiewietz hasn't decided which college she'll attend full-time in the fall, but she plans on majoring in health sciences. Health has become more important to her than ever after she experienced a career-ending concussion during her senior season of high school soccer.
It was a life-changing experience.
"The recovery was definitely very emotional and difficult, just because I've always been the type of person that likes to be independent and in control of situations," Belkiewietz said. "I did not have any control over my body or over my brain at all during that time period. It was very rough and I had to rely on my faith and my friends and my family completely to help me through that situation."
Though it's a dark memory and is difficult to talk about, Belkiewietz is thankful to have the ability now to encourage others to take better precautions when it comes to brain injuries and recovery.
"My life was changed in an instant and there was nothing really that I could do about it," Belkiewietz said. "I wasn't sure if I would recover completely, and that was more difficult than I can put into words. It was a scary time for me, but I thankfully had the support of my faith, family and friends to help me recover. Everyone was patient and quietly supportive, and that's more than I could ever ask for.
"I really want people to be aware of how serious and life-altering concussions can be. Thankfully, the only lasting effect that I've experienced is my changed perspective on life."
Despite the difficulty associated with her concussion and recovery, Belkiewietz managed to stick with her plan to graduate early and even took a mission trip to El Zorrillo, Mexico.
In Mexico, Belkiewietz worked as a girls' math teacher in an educational development program through Lantern Hill ministries. The focus of the ministries is to break the cycle of poverty in and around Ensenada, Mexico, the largest town in the region near El Zorrillo.
The trip was another life-changing experience for Belkiewietz.
"I definitely experienced culture shock," Belkiewietz said. "It was difficult at first because it was a total immersion. I was by myself in a foreign country and I had three years of high school Spanish as my background."
Though it was slow-going at first, Belkiewietz eventually settled into the role and thrust herself into the care of the children she taught.
"Spending time with the children was my safe place and it made me feel welcome and comfortable," Belkiewietz said. "That's really how I enjoyed myself most. They just loved all of the attention that I was able to give them."
Her graduating class hasn't even danced at their senior prom, and yet Belkiewietz has a plethora of life experiences under her belt. Still, the best is yet to come.
"I have the dream of becoming President of the United States because it's a position that would allow me to change the world and make a lasting difference," Belkiewietz said. "Honestly, I don't know where my life will lead me but if I make one person's life better then I've done my part in this world."