Science has always fascinated me, but it became my passion when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at such a young age is far from easy. I find myself constantly doing my own research and tracking my symptoms/triggers to try and make sense of it all. As I've gone doctor to doctor, I've come to realize that there is a severe lack of research done on my conditions. It's hard to get the diagnosis or even be believed by doctors that it's not "all in your head". Experiencing these struggles as a child has lead me to a career in medical research. I am beyond determined to apply my knowledge as well as my own personal experiences to help advance research in the medical field. I have developed a large interest in biology and human health/diseases. I fell in love with it all during my 10th grade biology class which was also when I got my diagnosis. The human body is such an interesting creation that has so many layers to it. I have grown an interest in learning about the human body on a molecular level. Although I know more about the human body than most other people my age because of my experiences, I can't wait to take a deeper look into the human body and all of the tiny particles that make up the incredible structure of the human body. Since I started experiencing health complications, I have learned the importance of self advocacy. Being a child in this world, I was always over-looked and wasn't necessarily believed by most adults. I was simply looked at as being lazy or unmotivated; when in reality, my body is attacking itself from the inside. Being that voice for other people is so important because I know what it feels like to not be heard. I am confident in myself and my ability to share my story with the world in hopes that it helps even one single person not give up. I created a spoken word song that I wrote and spoke and choreographed a dance solo to it for my senior year. I never even imagined the impact it would have on other people; as it was truly a healing experience for me. The amount of people who came up to me in tears, telling me how beautiful and vulnerable it was blew my mind and the sweet comments genuinely warmed my heart. I have already began advocating for myself and I am determined to use that confidence to advocate for others and advance research in the medical field! This scholarship would mean the world to me and it would allow me to continue my education all the way up to a P.H.D.

Science has always fascinated me, but it became my passion when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at such a young age is far from easy. I find myself constantly doing my own research and tracking my symptoms/triggers to try and make sense of it all. As I've gone doctor to doctor, I've come to realize that there is a severe lack of research done on my conditions. It's hard to get the diagnosis or even be believed by doctors that it's not "all in your head". Experiencing these struggles as a child has lead me to a career in medical research. I am beyond determined to apply my knowledge as well as my own personal experiences to help advance research in the medical field. I have developed a large interest in biology and human health/diseases. I fell in love with it all during my 10th grade biology class which was also when I got my diagnosis. The human body is such an interesting creation that has so many layers to it. I have grown an interest in learning about the human body on a molecular level. Although I know more about the human body than most other people my age because of my experiences, I can't wait to take a deeper look into the human body and all of the tiny particles that make up the incredible structure of the human body. Since I started experiencing health complications, I have learned the importance of self advocacy. Being a child in this world, I was always over-looked and wasn't necessarily believed by most adults. I was simply looked at as being lazy or unmotivated; when in reality, my body is attacking itself from the inside. Being that voice for other people is so important because I know what it feels like to not be heard. I am confident in myself and my ability to share my story with the world in hopes that it helps even one single person not give up. I created a spoken word song that I wrote and spoke and choreographed a dance solo to it for my senior year. I never even imagined the impact it would have on other people; as it was truly a healing experience for me. The amount of people who came up to me in tears, telling me how beautiful and vulnerable it was blew my mind and the sweet comments genuinely warmed my heart. I have already began advocating for myself and I am determined to use that confidence to advocate for others and advance research in the medical field! This scholarship would mean the world to me and it would allow me to continue my education all the way up to a P.H.D.

The person in my life with Alzheimer’s is my grandfather. He always used to be the funny one, the adventurous one, and the planner. He used to do everything. But all of a sudden after he got diagnosed, he was starting to change pretty quickly. He started talking less, started having more anxiety, and started forgetting things. I didn’t really notice it at first because it was very mild. But once it started getting worse and he started losing more things it became more noticeable to me. We used to talk for hours on the phone and now whenever we call to say “hi” to my grandparents, he will try to end the phone call fairly early. My opinion on this is that I don’t think he knows what to say all the time, therefore he will either repeat what you say when asked a question, or just ignore it all together. I have encountered this other times rather than on the phone. If I were to ask him “do you like my hair”, most of the time he would answer with “yes I like your hair”. I’m thinking he repeats stuff because in his brain he knows what to say, but his brain doesn’t send down the signals to his mouth for the words to actually come out. I find it intriguing that some parts of his brain aren’t affected at all. His speech is definitely affected, but if you tell him to sing a song, he knows every word. Now this is interesting to me because you would think that speaking and singing would be the same thing, but somehow dementia affects only certain parts of the brain at a time so things can seem a bit strange. It is the most random things that he knows. Things like songs, stuff from his childhood, and just these spontaneous things that come naturally to him still. It just seems odd how he can remember random things, or things from so long ago, yet he can’t remember what he ate for breakfast that day (or at least the words don’t come out of his mouth, when I think his brain really knows what to say, the connection just isn’t there). But according to some research I have done, people say that patients with dementia are more likely to remember past events more than recent events. He also struggles with a lot of anxiety. If he doesn’t quite know what's going on, he will pace around the room and he won’t sit down even if we tell/ask him to. It can even be the simplest things that stress him out. One of the most recent times is when my grandparents were over at our house. My grandmother was just gathering up her things and using the bathroom after my grandfather had left to head to the car. Once he realized that she hadn’t followed him out, he began pacing. So at first I was like “okay maybe he is just stretching his legs or something”. But then he began walking around our front yard and I was a little confused. So I went to tell my aunt and ask her why he is doing that. She didn’t know either. She asked him why, and he claimed to have said “Oh my back just hurts a little bit from sitting”. So we let him walk for a little while, but my grandmother got into a conversation with my mom and we knew it was gonna be a few more minutes before she came out, so we told my grandfather to go back inside and sit down. The minute we got inside and he sat down and my grandmother was in his sight, he calmed right down. Now I still find this event interesting because I’m still not sure what caused him to get so anxious. Was it that he was worried something would happen to my grandmother in the house? Was he worried that he had done something wrong? Did his back actually hurt? Or was it just simply being stressed out and anxious. I think another interesting point in his diagnosis that became more clear to me was our most recent trip to Walt Disney World (which was in April 2022). We have been going as a family for as long as I can remember (I think I have been there around 10 times) and almost every time, my grandparents are there. They are from Boston, and as of this trip, we experienced some more complications than we had thought of. Simple things like he is always the one who bought their plane tickets and made sure everything for the trip was booked, but he wasn’t able to remember how to do any of that. So my parents ended up doing it all; which was fine. But another thing happened. At the airport, my grandmother was all alone to figure out where they had to go, and after the flight she had to figure out what taxi they had to catch to get to their hotel. Now this was everything that my grandfather used to do, so we had to help them out. Now we get to the parks and the rides. I can’t remember a single ride that my grandfather actually remembered the name of. Some he was able to describe, but others he couldn’t even remember what they were or what they looked like. This I think was one of the things that shocked me the most because we had been there so many times. Something about this trip was just different from all the rest. He wasn’t his normal self. I think this was one of the main events that kind of settled it for me that he has changed and there is no cure to this terrible disease. But I have a great mind set and like working with people like this, so what do I do? I talk to him about the things he does remember, I help him out with certain things, and I make sure he feels smart and important even if he can’t remember the simplest of things. Now the most interesting part, to me, is how it has affected his personality. My grandfather used to be the life of the party (and I would know since I was his favorite). But all of a sudden he’s just not himself. He rarely laughs, although the times he does laugh it makes me so happy. But I don’t think that it’s that he doesn’t think that something is funny, I have a feeling that his brain just can’t focus on something that well to know the “meaning of it”. He has also turned very quiet; which is very unlikely of him. He used to always be talking and making jokes and sharing stories. But now it’s like he doesn’t know what to say; and I have a feeling that that is true. When there is “awkward silence” or I’m just standing there, he will look around or look at me and then just comment something simple whether it’s what I’m wearing, or the decorations up at the house, but it’s always just something simple. I think the reason he doesn’t speak as much is because he is afraid of saying something wrong. He will talk about things he knows, or going back to what I had said, he has no problem singing a full song and not messing up a single word. But he will repeat stuff, making sure he gets everything right. Or if you ask him a question saying “do you like this” or “doesn’t this look nice” he will just say yes and agree with you. My opinion is that he does this so he doesn’t risk saying the wrong thing and us making fun of him (which we would obviously never do knowing he has dementia). The most relatable quote I’ve ever heard is “it’s weird to mourn someone when they’re still alive”. Being so close to someone who is affected so aggressively by this awful disease is gut-wrenching. He was my person, my best friend, and my favorite person on earth. It’s hard to watch someone you love so much deteriorate and become unable to say the words “I love you”. This personal, heart-breaking experience has led me to gain an interest in medical research. I hope that one day no one will have to experience the long goodbye. There are no words to describe the feeling of watching someone you love fade away while they’re standing right in front of you. But my goal is to advance research in this field so that way no one has to witness a loved one fading away. One last reminder I have is to always soak up all of the memories and remind those you love how much you truly love them. They're still there on the inside and none of this is their fault.

“A chronic illness is defined as,“a long-term health condition in which there is no cure”. The phrase “there is no cure” doesn’t hit you as intensely until you’re the one who can’t be cured. Certain words or concepts don’t sink in as deeply until it affects you. This illness of mine is a thief that stole unwavering control of my body and has left me wondering if it’s really worth the fight. It becomes hard for me to gather up the motivation to fight when I’m told that I am now unreliable. It becomes hard to fight when I am told that my illness is now my identity. For so long I always wanted to make my mark and give people something to remember me for, but I never thought that this would be what defines me. I am constantly being judged, glared at, and questioned. But what those people don’t see are the day-to-day struggles. They don’t see me struggling to get out of bed, they don’t see me struggling to eat, they don’t see me struggling to even put myself together and show up everyday. Words cannot weigh the feeling of my whole body spinning, my vision being overwhelmed by flashing stars, and my limbs going weak. The fact that no one can truly understand how I feel is one of the hardest pills to swallow. That is why invisible illnesses can sometimes be the most detrimental. The toll an invisible illness takes on ones body is unimaginable. The constant fatigue that floods my body, the never-ending lion tearing at my stomach and attempting to burst out of my chest, the invisible chains that wrap around my body causing me to feel paralyzed. It all goes unseen. It all goes unseen because I continue to show up with a smile on my face that masks every inch of suffering my body faces. It all goes unseen because of how much I hide my vulnerabilities. This mask of mine shows up so naturally that sometimes I don’t even realize who’s behind it. Part of me wishes I could rip off that mask that has caged everything inside of me and reveal myself. But now, there are moments where I find myself wondering how I even got here. Where did my life go? Where did I go? What happened to the person I used to be? What happened to the little girl who was always told to dream big and reach for the stars? She’s gone. She’s been gone long enough that I don’t know if I’ll ever get her back. But what I do know is that life’s not over yet. It’s my time to fight this villain inside of me and get my life back. This is my time and this is my story.” These are the words I wrote, about my own story, to help create my senior dance solo. Being a teenager with an invisible illness is brutal. Ever since I got diagnosed with multiple illnesses, I have always hated thinking about how others feel the same way I do, or even worse, and there’s no cure to give us hope at all better life. I will be studying molecular and cellular biology to help guide me to a career in medical research. I am more determined than ever to share my knowledge and personal experiences to advance medical research in any possible way that I can. My goal is to provide people with even the smallest amount of hope that things will get better.

The person in my life with Alzheimer’s is my grandfather. He always used to be the funny one, the adventurous one, and the planner. He used to do everything. But all of a sudden after he got diagnosed, he was starting to change pretty quickly. He started talking less, started having more anxiety, and started forgetting things. I didn’t really notice it at first because it was very mild. But once it started getting worse and he started losing more things it became more noticeable to me. We used to talk for hours on the phone and now whenever we call to say “hi” to my grandparents, he will try to end the phone call fairly early. My opinion on this is that I don’t think he knows what to say all the time, therefore he will either repeat what you say when asked a question, or just ignore it all together. I have encountered this other times rather than on the phone. If I were to ask him “do you like my hair”, most of the time he would answer with “yes I like your hair”. I’m thinking he repeats stuff because in his brain he knows what to say, but his brain doesn’t send down the signals to his mouth for the words to actually come out. I find it intriguing that some parts of his brain aren’t affected at all. His speech is definitely affected, but if you tell him to sing a song, he knows every word. Now this is interesting to me because you would think that speaking and singing would be the same thing, but somehow dementia affects only certain parts of the brain at a time so things can seem a bit strange. It is the most random things that he knows. Things like songs, stuff from his childhood, and just these spontaneous things that come naturally to him still. It just seems odd how he can remember random things, or things from so long ago, yet he can’t remember what he ate for breakfast that day (or at least the words don’t come out of his mouth, when I think his brain really knows what to say, the connection just isn’t there). But according to some research I have done, people say that patients with dementia are more likely to remember past events more than recent events. He also struggles with a lot of anxiety. If he doesn’t quite know what's going on, he will pace around the room and he won’t sit down even if we tell/ask him to. It can even be the simplest things that stress him out. One of the most recent times is when my grandparents were over at our house. My grandmother was just gathering up her things and using the bathroom after my grandfather had left to head to the car. Once he realized that she hadn’t followed him out, he began pacing. So at first I was like “okay maybe he is just stretching his legs or something”. But then he began walking around our front yard and I was a little confused. So I went to tell my aunt and ask her why he is doing that. She didn’t know either. She asked him why, and he claimed to have said “Oh my back just hurts a little bit from sitting”. So we let him walk for a little while, but my grandmother got into a conversation with my mom and we knew it was gonna be a few more minutes before she came out, so we told my grandfather to go back inside and sit down. The minute we got inside and he sat down and my grandmother was in his sight, he calmed right down. Now I still find this event interesting because I’m still not sure what caused him to get so anxious. Was it that he was worried something would happen to my grandmother in the house? Was he worried that he had done something wrong? Did his back actually hurt? Or was it just simply being stressed out and anxious. I think another interesting point in his diagnosis that became more clear to me was our most recent trip to Walt Disney World (which was in April 2022). We have been going as a family for as long as I can remember (I think I have been there around 10 times) and almost every time, my grandparents are there. They are from Boston, and as of this trip, we experienced some more complications than we had thought of. Simple things like he is always the one who bought their plane tickets and made sure everything for the trip was booked, but he wasn’t able to remember how to do any of that. So my parents ended up doing it all; which was fine. But another thing happened. At the airport, my grandmother was all alone to figure out where they had to go, and after the flight she had to figure out what taxi they had to catch to get to their hotel. Now this was everything that my grandfather used to do, so we had to help them out. Now we get to the parks and the rides. I can’t remember a single ride that my grandfather actually remembered the name of. Some he was able to describe, but others he couldn’t even remember what they were or what they looked like. This I think was one of the things that shocked me the most because we had been there so many times. Something about this trip was just different from all the rest. He wasn’t his normal self. I think this was one of the main events that kind of settled it for me that he has changed and there is no cure to this terrible disease. But I have a great mind set and like working with people like this, so what do I do? I talk to him about the things he does remember, I help him out with certain things, and I make sure he feels smart and important even if he can’t remember the simplest of things. Now the most interesting part, to me, is how it has affected his personality. My grandfather used to be the life of the party (and I would know since I was his favorite). But all of a sudden he’s just not himself. He rarely laughs, although the times he does laugh it makes me so happy. But I don’t think that it’s that he doesn’t think that something is funny, I have a feeling that his brain just can’t focus on something that well to know the “meaning of it”. He has also turned very quiet; which is very unlikely of him. He used to always be talking and making jokes and sharing stories. But now it’s like he doesn’t know what to say; and I have a feeling that that is true. When there is “awkward silence” or I’m just standing there, he will look around or look at me and then just comment something simple whether it’s what I’m wearing, or the decorations up at the house, but it’s always just something simple. I think the reason he doesn’t speak as much is because he is afraid of saying something wrong. He will talk about things he knows, or going back to what I had said, he has no problem singing a full song and not messing up a single word. But he will repeat stuff, making sure he gets everything right. Or if you ask him a question saying “do you like this” or “doesn’t this look nice” he will just say yes and agree with you. My opinion is that he does this so he doesn’t risk saying the wrong thing and us making fun of him (which we would obviously never do knowing he has dementia). The most relatable quote I’ve ever heard is “it’s weird to mourn someone when they’re still alive”. Being so close to someone who is affected so aggressively by this awful disease is gut-wrenching. He was my person, my best friend, and my favorite person on earth. It’s hard to watch someone you love so much deteriorate and become unable to say the words “I love you”. This personal, heart-breaking experience has led me to gain an interest in medical research. I hope that one day no one will have to experience the long goodbye. There are no words to describe the feeling of watching someone you love fade away while they’re standing right in front of you. But my goal is to advance research in this field so that way no one has to witness a loved one fading away. One last reminder I have is to always soak up all of the memories and remind those you love how much you truly love them. They're still there on the inside and none of this is their fault.

Science has always fascinated me, but it became my passion when I was diagnosed with a chronic illness. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at such a young age is far from easy. I find myself constantly doing my own research and tracking my symptoms/triggers to try and make sense of it all. As I've gone doctor to doctor, I've come to realize that there is a severe lack of research done on my conditions. It's hard to get the diagnosis or even be believed by doctors that it's not "all in your head". Experiencing these struggles as a child has lead me to a career in medical research. I am beyond determined to apply my knowledge as well as my own personal experiences to help advance research in the medical field. I have developed a large interest in biology and human health/diseases. I fell in love with it all during my 10th grade biology class which was also when I got my diagnosis. The human body is such an interesting creation that has so many layers to it. I have grown an interest in learning about the human body on a molecular level. Although I know more about the human body than most other people my age because of my experiences, I can't wait to take a deeper look into the human body and all of the tiny particles that make up the incredible structure of the human body. Since I started experiencing health complications, I have learned the importance of self advocacy. Being a child in this world, I was always over-looked and wasn't necessarily believed by most adults. I was simply looked at as being lazy or unmotivated; when in reality, my body is attacking itself from the inside. Being that voice for other people is so important because I know what it feels like to not be heard. I am confident in myself and my ability to share my story with the world in hopes that it helps even one single person not give up. I created a spoken word song that I wrote and spoke and choreographed a dance solo to it for my senior year. I never even imagined the impact it would have on other people; as it was truly a healing experience for me. The amount of people who came up to me in tears, telling me how beautiful and vulnerable it was blew my mind and the sweet comments genuinely warmed my heart. I have already began advocating for myself and I am determined to use that confidence to advocate for others and advance research in the medical field!

“You are unreliable” is the comment I hope no one else has to hear. Being a teenager with chronic illness is far from easy in today’s world. I am just seen as lazy or someone who doesn’t want to push herself. But in reality, life is not easy, and I myself have been told that I am unreliable because of the illness my body is facing. There’s a difference between being told “YOU are unreliable” and “your BODY is unreliable”. This situation has lead me towards an interest in medical research. I have always loved learning about the human body and trying to solve puzzles, but having a personal experience with an illness changes your perspective on life. I am more determined than ever to bring my knowledge into research and get the world closer to finding cures. Although some may say it’s unlikely that I will actually be the one to find the answers, I am determined to get the world even an inch closer to an answer. Knowing that I have helped my community and hopefully helped people in the future would heal my heart. Not only do I have a love for science, but I also have a love for the arts. Being a dancer and a French Horn player are two things I have based my whole life around. Getting to explore what my body is capable of and how I can share stories and express feelings through my body is an indescribable experience. There’s nothing I love more than sharing my love for the arts in front of an audience. My illness has lead me to write spoken word, record my voice speaking it, and then choreograph a dance to my own words for my senior solo at my dance studio. Although this dance may not be the typical competition type dance with tons of tricks and turns, it’s a dance that is healing me and has hopefully touched the lives of others. I am very open to sharing my story and I truly believe that my story will one day be someone else’s survival guide. I am pushing forward and fighting everyday so that way one day this illness won’t even exist. People deserve to feel seen, heard, and noticed. I see everyone out there who is struggling and fighting silent, invisible me battles and I am determined to be the one to find answers! We can do this!

To be brutally honest, in today’s world, the thing I get teased for the most is the fact that I don’t use swear words. The topic doesn’t come up often, but it becomes awkward when I use replacement words that other people find weird and unnecessary. One moment in particular that stands out to me was during science class in 10th grade when a girl said “do you ever swear?” And I responded by saying “no, I have never used a swear word before.” Her comment was what left me speechless. She continued to state “Wow, you’re such a good girl. I wish I could do that. Everyone should be like you.” All of that was truly sarcastic and made me upset. But I also could see that deep down that girl was slightly jealous of the control I had over myself. I am not afraid of being different or being in the minority if it means staying true to my beliefs. Although that conversation stuck with me, it never changed my thoughts about swearing. In fact, it gave me the realization that it could actually be my super power. Being able to control my own voice and the words I choose to speak is a gift. Since then, I still continue to stand my ground and never use swear words in any conversation. People have even started to ask me “do you swear at all? Like even in your head or something?” And I can still honestly answer that question with “no.” Swearing never comes across my mind and it will continue to never cross my mind. This day and age I feel as though swearing has gotten out of control and it honestly makes me a little uncomfortable. The amount of times people swear in just a single sentence blows my mind. The fact that I can live my entire life, like a normal person, but never using a swear word, leaves me wondering why others can’t do the same. Now I understand that people are free to say what they want, but why not say it in a nicer way? Those words are truly unnecessary and there are better ways to say things. In the end, not swearing has been something that has always been my “awkward” thing. But it will also continue to always be my “awkward” thing, and I am okay with that. I will continue to use my voice in a kind, polite way, and prove that you don’t need to change your way of life just to fit in!

Music soothes my soul in many different ways. I started dancing at the age of 2, playing the piano at the age of 5, and playing the French horn at the age of 10. Across this wide variety of musical experiences, I have learned the power of dynamics, tempo, and truly feeling the music. During high school I took it upon myself to branch out and seek new opportunities. For all 4 years of high school, I have attended an arts half-day high school, to further enhance my dance education. I train at the school 13 hours a week, and train at my dance studio 12 hours a week. And since I am not able to fit band into my schedule at my morning school, I have taken private horn lessons, and joined orchestras and wind ensembles for more opportunities. Music is in my life every minute of every day. I am the type of artist that is constantly rehearsing dances in my head, or constantly thinking through a piece of music. Music is so unique in the way that these tiny dots on a paper can create a melodious story that moves people. One piece of music can be transformed into something brand new just from a fresh set of eyes interpreting something differently. Music has given me many outlets in life and many different ways to add my own artistry to pieces of music. I have always been an artsy kid. Whether it’s dance, or instruments, that’s always been the most important thing to me in life. Although having an even balance between academics and arts is important, I truly feel that music is more involved in influencing someone’s way of life. Music has taught me how to adapt to different styles and art forms. It has taught me how to really feel something deep down in my soul and figure out ways to express that outwardly. It has taught me to be free, let loose, and just have fun with it. With music, there’s no right and wrong. It’s just music. My favorite quote from a French horn teacher is “My teacher taught me how to follow the rules, and now it’s my job to bend the rules.” That opened my eyes and it has stuck with me for a while. Music is influential in the way that one piece of music could sound a million different ways just by tweaking small bits of it. Music is more powerful than words and I will forever stand by that!

I was forced to watch my health strip my own being of everything I loved. I went from being the energetic dancer, to the girl who’s allergic to gravity. My experience in dealing with a chronic illness has changed my perspective on life and how we live it. Our health can change in an instant, and we may never get it back. I am determined to pursue a career that allows me to contribute my knowledge towards medical research. Although this illness may limit my dancing abilities, it has opened my eyes to a whole new world. We take so many things for granted in life. Our health deserves to be our main priority. I become intrigued when learning about my own health and how to manage it. One thing that I would like to change is how people perceive women in the healthcare field. Anytime I say “I want to major in molecular and cellular biology, and go into medical research” I get the most shocking reaction. Although it is a unique and specific major, people often associate higher difficulty things with males rather than females. I want to prove to people that women are incredible. I have read numerous articles stating that the reason my chronic illness isn’t well known or well understood is because it’s prominent in females. Now that bothers me. Knowing that most medical testing is done on males is completely unfair. Most health issues are more common in females, and we deserve to access to the correct treatments. I want to be the woman who uses her health struggles as fuel to help others. Being a young female with a chronic illness has paved the way for my future. It’s given me a sense of self-reliance, adaptability, and self-advocacy. I have a deep love for both science and the arts. These two passions of mine are what have gotten me through these years of health complications. I would love to have the opportunity to use these experiences to help others, especially woman, and give people hope. Women deserve to be given answers. Women deserve to live life to the fullest. Women deserve to be seen and heard. But women also deserve to be the ones giving the answers. Women deserve to be the ones seeing and hearing others. Women are incredible people who deserve a chance in this world. As a woman, I am determined to fight for other woman in the healthcare field. My worst fear of watching my body deteriorate became the fuel I needed to make a difference in this world.

I got diagnosed with MCAS (mast cell activation syndrome) when I was in 10th grade. There were definitely many bumps in the road, but there was one thing that I didn't quite expect to run into. People were not accommodating or respective of my illness and my needs. I believe this to be because of the impression that my generation has left on society. Most people my age have become lazy and un-trustworthy; doing anything they can to get out of doing hard things. But this is where I differ from others' my age. Being a teenager with an invisible illness has taught me the importance of self-advocacy. This is a trait of mine that I don't think I would have learned as quickly if not for this rocky road. I have taken it upon myself to advocate for my own health/needs, and speak up about invisible illnesses. I have gained more confidence when it comes to speaking to others about my health. It can be a scary/hard thing to talk about (especially when most people don't understand it), but the only way to bring awareness to it is to be open to sharing our stories. The amount of people that I have been able to educate on MCAS has been incredible. I am very grateful that I feel comfortable enough to share my experiences with others in order to help bring awareness to the situation. Most people my age are not always trusted with things. I have had many encounters with teachers where they try to tell me that I'm "faking it" or that I'm just being lazy. I have learned to keep all of my medical notes handy incase proof is kindly needed. I also have been getting a lot of weird/nasty look from my peers; so I have learned to speak up for myself and combat their look with knowledge instead of insecurity. I used to feel vulnerable when getting those looks, but now I use them as opportunities to inform others. One situation really stuck with me that made me grateful for my self-advocacy. I was being pulled from a dance routine weeks before the show because the teacher said I was "unreliable". Now, I had only sat out of 1 single rehearsal due to my illness, and that was because I had to fill in as an understudy for another piece that day. This absolutely broke my heart and made me think of all of the other kids in the world getting opportunities taken away from them for this reason. I took it upon myself to speak with the choreographer and explain my situation and why it's my health that is unreliable, not me as a person. Although I was ultimately still removed from the piece as the choreographer had the final say, I was proud of myself for defending myself. I know that I covered a lot in this response, but I am ultimately grateful for the confidence and ability to speak-up that I have gained from this invisible illness. I truly believe that I would not be this out-spoken if it weren't for having MCAS. Having an invisible illness is one of the most detrimental things in my life, but it has instilled in me the ability of self-advocacy; something I will forever be grateful for.

“Hello beautiful people” is how she enters, and “love you, mean it” is how she exits. This woman has made an everlasting impact on my life that I will carry with me for eternity. As a nervous freshman at a new school, I was intimidated by her outgoing and loving personality. She always says “hello beautiful people” no matter who she’s talking to. I thought that this phrase was a little silly and just something she always said. She would always tell us that we’d get sick of her, but that she’ll never stop saying those words; even if we roll our eyes sometimes. I would laugh it off and my classmates and I wouldn’t think much of it. But as life’s journey has brought me to my senior year, I begin to realize the impact that these “silly little phrases” have truly had on my life. This teacher of mine embraced everyone’s differences and showed love like no other. She always made everyone feel seen and appreciated. Her phrase “hello beautiful people” would always light up the room, and it now brings a smile to my face every time I hear it. There’s something about her heart that truly touches me. My classmates and I agreed that her words held a special place in our hearts, and deserved to be represented on something that others would see. We incorporated her beautiful words on our senior shirt as a reminder to others of the wonderful person she is. Unfortunately, she no longer teaches at that school and that absolutely crushed me. But her other famous phrase “love you, mean it” has stuck with me even more recently. You never know what you have until you don’t have it. Those words were something I definitely experienced when I no longer saw her smiling face at school. She has such a genuinely beautiful soul and knowing that I wouldn’t hear those phrases every day deeply saddened me. But now, when we do see her, we always say “love you, mean it”. This phrase simply shows someone that the words we speak truly mean something. It’s a way of showing someone you care and love them just that extra bit more. Not only has she taught me how to love and how to light up a room; she has taught me strength, kindness, and compassion. But most importantly, she reminds me that good people still exist in this world. Words are way more powerful than we believe; so use them carefully, and use them to make the world a better place.

The movie “Breakthrough” was the first film that ever left me speechless. This movie takes us on a journey of a teenage boy who drowns and is in a coma for far too long. This kid shouldn’t have lived, but in the end he survived the accident and returned to life with no restrictions. The message throughout the story was that faith and love can heal a person no matter what. The unconditional love that this kid had from his parents, friends, classmates, and pastor were ultimately what helped him survive. The emotions that the actors/actresses expressed were truly remarkable and it was the most genuine feeling of loss that I’ve ever watched. The mom in this story never once loses faith in her son. She is the one and only character who believes wholeheartedly that her son will live. I couldn’t believe that someone could be that hopeful in a situation so rough. I experienced time standing still when I watched this movie the first time, and it really makes you think about the meaning of life. This kids life changed in an instant and all of the people who loved him rallied to pray for him. I honestly never fully believed that so many people could come together for one person. I always wondered what would happen if I was ever in that situation. Who would be there for me? Would people care? This movie was what showed me the meaning of love. Family and friends are there through thick and thin and we are never alone in this world. Everyone that this kid knew was praying for him every single day and never letting him out of their memory. But the things that got me the most was the fact that this movie was based off of a true story. So often we watch television shows or movies and assume that it’s all just an act; that it’s not real. But the fact that this exact story happened to some innocent kid in real life took my breath away. If I could feel the emotion from the characters in the film, I can’t even imagine the weight of grief in the hospital room in real life. “Breakthrough” is a great reminder to us to always check in on those we love. I learned that the power of prayer and faith is truly magical. This kids life was saved because those around him never gave up on him. He is here today because of the power of faith, and that to me is the ultimate miracle.

The words “there is no cure” were what directed my career path. Being diagnosed with a chronic illness at the age of 15 was by far the hardest thing I’ve ever had to deal with. But it was kind of a blessing in disguise. As someone who will never get healthier, I have become deeply interested in the science behind it all. The part that blows my mind the most is that I really have it good in life. Now when I think about everything I’ve been through, it’s been tough. But when I think about all that I have, and the fact that I can still go to school and still do what I love in a way, I can’t even imagine how other people feel. Knowing how much this chronic illness has changed my life has driven me towards a path of research so that soon no one else will have to remain sick for the long run. People deserve some hope in life; especially when it comes to our own health as humans. Empathy can be a true game changer for someone who is stuck in a body that they don’t belong in. The feeling of reassurance from someone else, regardless of who they are, can be the difference between life and death. Mental health is a huge part of the human life; even when talking about a physical illness. There is always a mental side to things and it is often the toughest part of it all. I truly felt lost after getting my diagnosis. But as life went on, I realized that the people who I love are always there for me. The human connection between us all, and the impact that our words have on others is what life is all about. We are meant to be there for each other because in reality, we all go through challenges in life; and we can’t go through those alone. I am determined to add my knowledge and experience into medical research so that way no other innocent human being has to suffer from a body and brain that are constantly arguing. I have personal experience so I know first-hand what this all feels like; and it hurts. It is really really awful. No one deserves that in life and that is why I am going to make a change in the medical research field. We’re all human anyways. We’re all made of tiny little cells that somehow create the gift of life. This life shouldn’t be taken for granted and it shouldn’t be spent wondering where your old life went. People deserve better in this world and I am ready to take on this challenge.

Defying Gravity may seem impossible, but the deeper meaning could not be more true. My dad would always blast this song in the car. Him and I would sing along and I would be dancing in the back seat having a blast. This song is so powerful but I was too young then to realize. The lyrics are all about embodying who you are as an individual and living life for your own good. We shouldn’t become vulnerable due to others’ words. We need to use those cruel comments and use them as fuel to prove them wrong. Other people shouldn’t be allowed to define our limits in life. My all time favorite line is “To those who ground me, take a message back from me”. This line truly hits home because it lights a fire under me that is unmatched. The power and ambition in Elphaba’s voice reminds me of why I am who I am. I was put on this earth to fly high and soar through life. This world is not a place where we should feel held down and weighted by others. It’s a place where we all deserve the chance to defy gravity and feel what it’s like to be free.

The fall of 2024 was when all of my confidence got crushed. I was pulled from an incredible dance piece because I was told that I was “unreliable”. Now, the reason the choreographer said this was because I am battling a chronic illness. But every single rehearsal I would show up and give my all in every run. But she still pulled me from the piece. Being removed from a piece I dreamed of dancing absolutely destroyed me. This made me re-think everything I’ve ever dreamed of. I always wanted to become a professional dancer and share my movement with the world. But that dream was now gone. I began to reflect on the event that had happened, and I used that as fuel to fight for myself. I still continued to show up to every rehearsal, every class, and even all the performances. I continued to help my classmates with costume changes and remembering choreography. I started to realize that I have a lot of fight in me. I would have never known how much fight I had unless this indecent happened. My new dream is now to help others so that way they don’t have to go through what I did. My goal in the future is to become a researcher in the medical field after studying human biology on a cellular level. I want to figure out the who, what, where, when, why, and how. I’ve grown a deep passion for advocating for those with a chronic illness. It would be so incredible if I could have a hand in furthering research that is for creating cures for diseases. This fight in me has grown and I am also back to loving dance almost as much as I used to. Since dance is created to tell stories, I have found myself using my movement to express my story. As I approach my senior year of high school, I find myself creating my last dance solo about my health complications. The thoughts and anger that flood my body are now projected in a spoken story that is played alongside a powerful melody. My hope is that I change someone’s life or their point of view on a chronic illness. I am using what I love to raise awareness about invisible illnesses and how detrimental they can be. Bringing such a deep and personal topic into the dance world is tough, but I am willing to take that risk in the hope of reaching anyone that needs to hear what I have to say. We are never alone in this world and I hope to use my passions and knowledge to help save people.

My chronic illness practically became my identity. Everywhere I went, I was known as the ‘sick girl’. Having this chronic illness robbed me of everything a teenager in high school dreams of. I am always canceling plans, spending days in bed resting instead of hanging out with friends, and I even became more isolated. But one of the things I noticed that impacted me the most, was what others said to me. I would be told things like “you are too young to be ill” or “you are now unreliable”. These simple phrases that the average person doesn’t think much of really digs deep into my skin. My life became controlled by not only this illness but by others perceptions of me. I felt like I was always hiding behind this mask that covered all of my flaws and vulnerabilities. But as I approach my senior year of high school, I have reflected on the past few years and realized all of the good that has come from this illness. I am now more responsible, more independent, and more self-aware. I now find myself using the hurtful words of others as fuel to fight back with. I’ve put my anger into movement as I find myself composing my final dance solo about my health complications. All the thoughts and feelings that flood me are now spoken alongside a powerful melody; accompanied by my movement that shares my story. I want others to know that they are never alone. Even though my illness may be invisible, that doesn’t make me invisible. We are all worthy of achieving what we deserve and having a fair chance at an incredible life. My goal in the future it to begin a career in medical research. I am eager to study human biology on a cellular level to give myself a deeper understanding of why illnesses happen and how they happen. It would mean the absolute world to me if I could contribute to research that is helping to find cures for humans who are so deserving of a better life. I am wanting to make my mark and put my thoughts and opinions into research. I will bring my personal perspective on illnesses to help me think outside the box. Even though it may still take decades to find complete cures, I would be thrilled to know that I did my part in helping reach that goal at a quicker pace. Our community and our future is based off of the health of all humans. If we lose people who are eager to research new knowledge, then our world is going to collapse. I am ready to take on a large role in our community and help people in any way I can. We can do this if we all work together and stand up for one another. I am prepared and beyond ready to help create change and allow people to live long, healthy lives.

My dream career is to become a researcher in the medical field. I am currently battling a chronic illness and I am able to see first hand how that affects someone’s life. I would be honored to use my personal knowledge and experience to help bring a new perspective to the table. I want to help others by adding to research for cures. Health is a big part of our community and I believe that my unique/personal perspective on these topics can lead me to helping others. Science in itself is a major topic, but I am specifically interested in molecular and cellular biology. I want to gain knowledge on the human body and diseases at a cellular level; a level so small, yet it is the root cause of everything. I want to be able to advance medical practices, create new medications, and help improve research. My personal experience from health complications can help me advocate for others. It would be so incredibly amazing if I was the reason that our world became even one small step closer to finding a cure for a disease. I want to make my mark and play my role in medical science. Our future is based on us as humans. As humans, our health is what keeps us alive. If no one steps up and puts in the hard work of researching, we will not get any further in finding cures. We need people who will take action and have the drive to want to improve the lives of others. I am that person. I am the person who wants to push forward and become the reason someone lives. That would be such an incredible honor. My ultimate goal is to make a positive impact; even if it is just on one person. Our future is relying on us to help shape it, and science can do just that.