Hello, my name is Alexis and I am currently an undergraduate student pursuing a career in the arts and social sciences. I was born and raised in Southern California and intend to stay within the area, as SoCal truly has my heart. In January of this year, I was diagnosed with Crohn’s, a life-long autoimmune disease. As a result of Crohn’s, I have been struggling with my mobility and I am also trying to overcome additional health concerns. This has been a drastic change in my life, and it has definitely been difficult to combat all of the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of being an immunocompromised/disabled individual. Regardless of these circumstances, I make an effort to live my life in a way that is fulfilling and in a way where I can still accomplish my goals. Additionally, I am the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and a first-generation college student. My Mexican heritage has influenced so many aspects of my life ranging from being bilingual, constantly being around family, to perhaps eating one too many bowls of my mother’s amazing pozole. However, I would argue that the most valuable lessons my heritage has instilled in me are the importance of working hard and being passionate about my goals. My passion for art began the moment I learned how to pick up a crayon, and it grew, even more, when I learned how to read and write. At around twelve years old, I developed a love for writing fictional stories. While I always knew I wanted to have a career in the arts, it was through finding this passion for writing that I knew I had found the medium for me. Writing has since allowed me to express myself by creating worlds and characters that reflect the ideas in my mind. As I’ve developed my craft throughout the years, I’ve grown in my artistic abilities, as well as in my appreciation for the written word and its ability to communicate powerful messages that have the potential to change readers’ lives. Being a first-generation college student and a woman, I feel immensely determined to utilize my education to not only further my career, but also to make a positive impact on my community and the world. In pursuing two degrees, one in creative writing and one in political science, I hope to combine my passions of writing and advocacy to ultimately uplift the voices of the underrepresented and spark necessary positive change. My goal is to publish fictional stories that touch readers’ hearts, leave a lasting impression, and highlight the experiences and strengths of BIPOC, women, and disabled individuals. Through using my own written voice, uplifting the voices of others, and collaborating with different organizations, I hope to inspire others and contribute to the efforts of implementing changes within the political system that will ensure opportunities and equality for all people.

In January of this year, I was diagnosed with Crohn's Disease, which is an autoimmune disease that attacks the lining of the intestines and can also cause inflammation in other parts of the body. I experienced alarming symptoms very unexpectedly and the effects took a drastic toll on my physical and mental well-being within a matter of weeks. Within the span of a few weeks, I had gone from being a relatively normal individual to an individual with the inability to eat and walk, along with signs of inflammation in my eyes, mouth, and skin. I watched as I rapidly lost weight from malnutrition, and grew weaker, causing me to lose the strength to do anything for myself. To have such a sudden blow to my health truly made it feel like my life had been flipped upside down. In addition to this, the severity of the Crohn's Disease on my body triggered other dangerous health conditions. I also developed blood clots in different parts of my body, notably my legs and lungs, and I am currently still working on resolving them. As this is still a new diagnosis and a dramatic lifestyle change for me, I am still observing and reflecting on the ways it has shaped me. Although I have only experienced living as an individual with an autoimmune disease for a few months, I can definitely say that I have been tested in my ability to be resilient and persevere through the physical, mental, and emotional burdens that come with Crohn's Disease. Within these past few months, I have learned to appreciate myself for handling everything, because the reality of life is that most individuals will never know what it is like to be so young and have their lives so drastically compromised. Also, in a time when those closest to me were questioning whether or not I wanted to stay in school, I knew that I was determined to not fall behind in my academics. Despite the physical pains, the doctors' appointments, and the emotional breakdowns, I have still managed to stay engaged in my studies while I pursue two degrees in creative writing and political science, and remain in good academic standing overall. Having endured so much in such a short period of time, I have become even more motivated than ever to ensure that I do not allow Crohn's Disease to deter me from achieving my goals. Before my diagnosis, I knew that I wanted to combine my passions for writing and advocacy to create stories that touch people's hearts and highlight the experiences and strengths of women and BIPOC. However, now having experienced life in a new light, I have become inspired to also advocate for individuals with autoimmune diseases and other disabilities. As a student and throughout my career, I have goals of hosting blood drives for my community, serving as a mentor for those who have physical or mental disabilities, serving as an advocate for the importance of equal access to health care, and of course, publishing stories with characters that demonstrate the strength of people with chronic conditions. As I continue my journey of living as an individual with an autoimmune disease, I am confident that I will be able to live my life in a way that is fulfilling, and that I have the potential to help fulfill the lives of others who are like me—chronic bosses.