MTV Answers Prayers?

365 days ago, I was a nervous wreck. At 11 '0 clock p.m., August 3rd, 2010 my life was going to be aired on national television. I sat in my living room with ten close friends and my mom, scared to death at how I was going to be portrayed and what the results of filming from a few months earlier were going to be. A year later, I'm smiling at what an impact that hour showcasing tears, laughs, and camouflage brought to my life.

Some of you may still be lost, because if you didn't go to high school with me, you may not know; considering I hardly ever talk about it, but I was featured on a reality documentary series for MTV's "If You Really Knew Me". The response to the show was phenomenal. I received over 600 friend requests on FaceBook and numerous private messages explaining to me how my story helped and inspired them. The entire reason I agreed to be filmed was to make an impact on someones life; never did I think it would have such a positive impact on so many, including myself.

A short time after the show aired, I hit the campus of Marshall and heard many "She looks so familiar" or "I know her from somewhere" as I walked by. Even had some brave people come up and ask me if I was that girl, or ask me about my experience. I even had a person throw up the "I love you" sign to me as I walked through my local mall one day; and though it doesn't happen near as often, I still get recognized and questioned. I'd be lying if I said it didn't make you feel dang cool.

But enough about that; it's been a year and if you're actually interested in the entire story I can explain on a personal basis; but I just wanted to focus on the fact that my life has changed in more ways than one since the show aired. The most important being a response to something I'd said on the show: that all I wanted was a relationship with my dad. And I can gladly say, that's exactly what I have now.

My dad is a hardworking, West Virginia coal miner so his work schedule makes it hard to really spend time one-on-one, but we do the very best we can. It all began when Dad started taking me back to school on the weekends. In that hour drive to Huntington, we'd catch up on life, and slowly start to bond. He'd carry my things into my room, and after he'd leave I'd have a smile on my face knowing my prayers were being answered. We now talk just about everyday (sometimes I miss his call and he'll be out of service by the time I can call back) and I spend every Sunday night with him; the one day he has off a week. We'll go grocery shopping together, talk about life, boys, and my future. Everything I'd dreamt of having in a relationship with him, I have. It may have taken 19 years, but by golly; it's always better late than never.

The show wasn't scripted, just as life isn't. And never did I realize how being on MTV was going to provide me with the relationship I'd always wanted. If I were back in that Riverside classroom again, when we were told the show was coming, I'd never doubt for a second about going for it. There were times when I was crying with a camera glued to my face that I questioned myself about what I was doing. But looking back now, it was all worth it, and I hope the others that were on the show with me have had the same positive results as me. So, to be cliche; if you really knew me, you'd know my life has been a roller coaster in the past year, but I wouldn't change one single thing. Cut; press play; continue.