9 years and 1 month...that's how old I was when I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. After a couple of weeks of concerning symptoms, such as extreme thirst and hunger, sleepiness, frequent urination and weight loss, my doctor's appointment revealed what my mom was suspecting. As of today, I have lived with Type 1 Diabetes as long as I lived without it. I don't really remember my life before my diagnosis. Since then, my family and I have the added stress of glucose checks, carbohydrate counting, device changes, and low and high blood sugar. Even though Type 1 Diabetes is a challenge on the best day, we try to stay positive in several ways. I live in a small town with very few other Type 1 Diabetics. In fact, I am now the only Type 1 student in my high school. I have become connected with other Type 1 kids through participation in JDRF walks, Riding on Insulin Ski Camps, and Camp Needlepoint ADA summer camp. My mom and I spoke to our local 1st grade class about Type 1 Diabetes to help them understand what one of their classmates was going through. We held a Hat Day fundraiser at my middle school to raise money for my JDRF team, and we made morning announcements with facts about Type 1 Diabetes. Type 1 Diabetes can be stressful, but my family has helped me see the bright side of things with my annual Diabetes humor t-shirt. These are gifted to me to celebrate the anniversary of my diagnosis. As my mom says, we celebrate another year of surviving and thriving with Type 1 Diabetes. The shirts say things such as "Skittles saved my life..again!" and "All I need is my dog, Insulin and like 2 people." These make people smile but also bring a bit of awareness to the disease. Type 1 Diabetes has helped shape me into a more resilient person. I haven't let it stop me from doing the activities I want to do, even though it's not always easy. I have learned to be an advocate for myself and my health in various situations, at school and at my part-time job. I am getting ready to graduate and pursue further educational opportunities. I will have to learn how to manage diabetes challenges in a new setting with new teachers and classmates. I am trying to make wise choices with my education, choosing to begin my schooling at our local technical college to save money and continue working part time. I want to leave college as debt-free as I can, knowing I will have to be responsible for my medical care for many years to come. This scholarship and others I am applying for would be a big help in meeting that goal. Thank you for considering my application.