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There are so many ways that you can assist me in making this adventure possible. PLEASE CHECK OUT MY BLOG ABOVE TO SEE HOW YOU CAN HELP ME "TAKE A HIKE... FOR NF!" THANK YOU!

firstgiving~Take a Hike 4 NF
The Adventures of The American Discovery Trail
My St. Louis Friends! (There are A LOT of photos. So, you'll probably want to speed the slide slow up!)
My name is Jodi Harrington. I am 27 years old and I currently live in Oregon, Ohio with my Grandma, cousin James, and my two cats, Ladybug and Sweetie. I own two duplexes in Oregon, work part-time at the East YMCA as a class instructor/personal trainer, and am going back to school to get my Masters of Education in Integrated Sciences at The University of Toledo. I began seriously considering this hike when I started to question my choice to go back to school and pursue a teaching degree. With uncertainty regarding my future career plans, I began exploring other adventures that interested me.

This past summer, I did a lot of solo camping (and soul-searching). I went up to the Upper Peninsula of Michigan for twelve days. I also did a lot of weekend camping/hiking within a few hours of NW Ohio. The best part of my summer was my solo road trip out west for thirty days, which included visiting over 20 national parks and tent-camping the entire time. The trip was amazing! I was definitely blessed with the beauty and diversity of the terrain and wildlife that I saw, but the sights were actually not the best part. The people I met and the conversations that I had were unbelievable and unforgettable. It was amazing to see the friendliness and kindness of people all across the country. I have 1,000+ stories and memories that I will always cherish. When I returned from this trip, all I really wanted to do was take off on another adventure again! This is when I discovered the ADT. Seeing the country on foot will definitely be an even more amazing experience than a little road trip!

Okay, I am getting off track due to my excitement about this hike! I was valedictorian of my class of 1999 at Clay High School. I've always been involved in tons of sports, but focused on running near the end of high school. I was All-State in Cross Country and Track (4:59 1600m) my senior year. I started out college at Columbia University in NY, NY, but came home after one semester. I am not a city girl and I was very homesick. (I am happy with euchre and a bonfire!) I attended The University of Toledo and ran cross country and indoor/outdoor track. I graduated college in 2003 and began a career in real estate. I enjoyed selling real estate and it went very well, but my heart wasn't really in it. I also purchased two duplexes and although I don't picture myself as a landlord, it has gone well. I have great tenants and I consider them my friends!

Last year, I put my real estate career on hold and entered into a discipleship program in St. Louis for nearly nine months. It was amazing to learn about my relationship with Christ, what He has done for us, and how He intends for us to live our lives. My time in St. Louis was life-changing.

When I came home I didn't want to stay in real estate, but I was also unsure about what I did want to do. This past year has been filled with a lot of exploration and ended with the practical decision to go back to school. What I now realize is that, although unconventional, completing a hike across America is what is in my heart. I’m hoping that it'll open doors to the next step in my journey called “life”. I am 100% sure, as long as God continues to guide me in this direction, that I plan to move after this hike. I have some more big dreams that I'd like to pursue and I'm excited to see what happens next!

Okay, since this is an "About Me" section, I suppose I should include a blurb about my personality. I am the oldest of three siblings. We're Jodi (27), Joel (26), and Jay (25) and I definitely fit the "overbearing older sister" stereotype. I have always been outgoing and a bit of an over-achiever. I get ideas in my head and I pursue them 110%. I lack patience, probably need to think through decisions more thoroughly before jumping in headfirst, and can be a bit emotional! (Anyone that knows me is laughing at the understated "a bit" adverb.) I also tend to over-analyze things to a fault. I am a loner, but I enjoy being around people too. I have been told that I am too much of a dreamer, too optimistic/idealistic, and that I need to be more realistic about life. Truthfully, the only problem I see with these traits is that I tend to get let down sometimes because I set my expections too high. With this being the only negative, the benefits far outweigh the minuses and this has been an AWESOME way to live life thus far. I don't plan on changing my outlook any time soon. Before I go any farther, let me say right now that I am "wordy". If you haven't realized this yet, you will by the time you get through this entire profile... if you ever do. You'll never get a one word answer from me ever. Sorry. Actually, I'm not really sorry. It's just who I am.

Hiking across America "fits" who I am. It takes someone who is honestly a little crazy to attempt such a feat. I believe that determination, self-motivation, physical and mental toughness, optimism, and a strong love of life and adventure are necessary. I am not sure what I am going to do when I "grow up", but I at least know that hiking the ADT is what I am meant to do over the next year of my life. And, I'm okay with knowing this much. I have faith that the next steps will be revealed to me when the time is right.