Living with a chronic disorder is never easy. My name is Emily Schroeder, and I was first diagnosed with POTS autoimmune disorder at the age of twelve when my mother noticed I was often passing out while doing normal everyday things like running or standing up. POTS is an autoimmune disorder that makes it hard for blood to properly flow throughout the body, causing it to pool in the legs and feet. In response, the body increases its heart rate, sometimes to extreme amounts. This increase in heart rate can be triggered by a change in posture or even exercise. My mom would explain this to me the best she could, but I never truly understood it until I got a little older and wanted to play sports. As I matured, I realized that this disorder wouldn’t allow me to fully participate in things I loved, like basketball. I felt tired and dizzy all the time, and it kept me from wanting to hang out, make friends, or even go outside. I tried often to continue playing outside and running, but every attempt would end in an extreme fit of dizziness and even a full-body collapse. For a while, my mother and I were worried I would never get to enjoy sports, running, hiking, and every other physical activity she knew kids like me loved. However, as I got older, I found a love for research and work. Instead of joining sports, I had more time to work on my schoolwork and volunteer my skills in other ways. This extra free time would allow me to run fundraisers, design business cards for my local library, and help tutor kids who were struggling in the classes I excelled in due to my extra study time. I ended up falling in love with managing projects, researching things like string theory, and reading every book I could get my silly hands on. I may not be as active as I wish I could be, but I love working with my mind and trying to solve big problems. Beyond that, I get to support all the people who have encouraged my endeavors and supported me through it all, as they enjoy the very sports and games I used to. Now at school, I get to cheer as others shoot baskets and play games. I love supporting the people around me, and I am so grateful that I found a way to not just overcome my illness but make something from it.