Emma Allison walked into Search #152, a Diocese of Little Rock youth retreat, filled with anger and sadness.
“When I was younger, I thought when something bad happened to me, I was being punished by God. In talking with the youth, I feel like it’s a common thing,” the 18-year-old admitted.
At the time, her brother was convicted for his participation in a shootout and was serving a prison sentence. Her 2-year-old nephew, Bryson, lived with them most days.
At Search in 2023, the St. Joseph School senior in Conway took steps toward understanding God’s love. It didn’t mean the suffering ended — she soon dealt with the deaths of her great-grandfather and a best friend. But Allison continued forward in Christ, becoming involved in Search leadership, a member of the Youth Advisory Council and Catholic Youth Ministry at St. Joseph.
“(At Search) I went to reconciliation with Father Jeff Hebert … and it was one of the best I’ve ever had in my life. He knew everything so personally, he could sit there and pray with me and really pinpoint what God was trying to tell me,” she said. “And then, after going to adoration and being in front of Jesus was such a moving and heartwarming moment. It was definitely like I could breathe and at least have a sense of relaxation because I was so tense and always on edge. It almost felt freeing.”
Her foundation of faith began at home as a daughter to parents Chris and Jalisa Allison.
“I would say my parents have always been great representatives of the faith,” she said. “My dad converted in 2012, and my mom has been the rock in my faith. She’s always been strong in her faith and seeing her be joyful because of her relationship with the Lord always made me curious about it.”
Allison, who earned a 4.16 GPA, attended public school until her freshman year at St. Joseph. She was involved in bowling, soccer, Interact Club, vice president of the Family, Career and Community Leaders of America and senior class secretary. Allison earned Most Improved Player and Most Valuable Player for bowling at the senior awards ceremony.
“I put a lot of effort into practicing and trying to correct my form and listening to all the tips my coach gave me,” she said, making time for extra practice each month.
She said she loves helping friends and others get more involved in their faith.
“A lot of kids nowadays don’t find it fun to talk about their faith. Being an example of living the faith and going to youth ministry is fun and glorifies the Lord,” she said. “… I want to be that person to somebody that my youth ministers were to me.”
Allison will attend the University of Dallas and double major in Spanish and theology. She hopes to work as a youth minister in Arkansas and eventually as the diocesan youth ministry director.
“Switching from public school to a Catholic private school was tremendously impactful because I got to actually talk about my faith and was never looked down upon for being Catholic,” she said. “I just automatically clicked, and it was a family at St. Joseph.”
