There was a storm outside blowing down trees and tearing up people's lawns, but inside a hospital a different kind of storm was brewing. My mother had just given birth but her happiness was cut short when her doctor told her something that would change her child’s life, “Your child has asthma." That diagnosis defined how I experienced my childhood and my high school career. I was always an adventurous kid but my severe asthma limited how long I could be active for. I loved to run around but after some time I felt like I was being choked, gasping for the air that my body refused to keep in. Throughout my elementary and middle school years, I was constantly left out by my peers because I would not last long in physical activities. When my classmates played outside for recess, I would spend my time indoors with a tablet to keep me company. I felt like an outcast, as if the world was punishing me for something that I could not control. I wanted to be able to jump rope and win medals for my school’s Jump Rope for Heart campaign, but within minutes my chest would get tight. I was frustrated with myself and the world for my disease because it felt like it hindered my ability to truly be a kid. As I grew older, I encountered new challenges as my allergies made my asthma more sensitive. Despite my fears, I joined my high school’s track team. My first practices were tough and during the springtime, prime allergy season, they were even more difficult. I remember when we had to run seven 100s, as soon as I finished the workout, I collapsed, taking multiple puffs of my inhaler hoping that I could get a full breath in. Over time, I developed new breathing techniques and I started taking allergy shots to manage my asthma. These experiences taught me how to push through hardship and to be resilient. My asthma not only taught me to push myself, but it also gave me a perspective few other people can say that they have. When I would have my asthma attacks all I would long for was a space that I felt safe in. Experiences like that inspired my passion for interior design. Next year will be my first year studying interior design in college with the goal of designing spaces that evoke wellness and comfort. As I study interior design, I will learn more about how spaces are built to accommodate the needs of different clientele and businesses to better learn how to create those safe spaces. I initially saw my asthma as a shortcoming, but I used it to push myself forward. My experiences with asthma taught me that even in places of chaos, we can still create spaces of peace. By pushing through my asthma, I learned how to be resilient and persevere in times of hardship. I now see my asthma as a part of me, not something for me to be ashamed of. My condition is no longer a limitation but a tool to design spaces where peace and comfort thrive.