850Strong Student of the Week

This week's 850Strong Student of the Week is Ryan Hodges.

He is a junior at Florida State University Panama City and works during the week. Ryan is balancing school and work, both while still being displaced after Hurricane Michael.

"My house is shaped like an L, and we lost the long part so we had like 11 people in the little leg part like 600 square feet I think, for about a month," Ryan said, "Still don't have a house yet, but it's all good though, I have a roof over my head which I'm very thankful for."

Ryan remained optimistic after the hurricane, and he shares this optimism with a youth group he leads every week.

"Having somebody that can really relate to them, that's not too far away from, not too far removed from the circumstances they may be facing as well, I think that's really important for their growth," said Ryan.

He continues to have the back of those in his youth group, just like how his neighbors had his after the hurricane.

"We were walking down the road and people already had chainsaws out, they were already moving trees, so just that 850 strong being a sense of community, and just knowing that someone has your back, it was a really cool thing to experience," Ryan said.

Ryan is working towards a business administration degree, and while he is unsure where the future will bring him, he is sure to bring his optimism and 850Strong spirit wherever he ends up.