Adversity comes in many forms, and everyone, especially athletes, learn how to deal with some kind of adversity during their lifetime. For an athlete with a disability, adversity is just part of the game. For me, my challenge has been learning to manage type 1 diabetes as a football player. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a permanent, life-long diagnosis with no cure, at nine years old. I had to learn how to give myself daily insulin injections and manage my blood sugar to keep myself alive. When I was first diagnosed, I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to have to explain that I was different. On the field, there were frustrating days that my sugar would drop low and I would have to leave the field to eat immediately. Or days that my sugar would be high and I would feel sluggish and sick. There were days I felt betrayed by my own body, and frustrated that I had to work so hard to keep my blood sugar in range, while everyone else got to go on every day without thinking about a chronic disease. But over time, I realized that I was not different - I was the same as every other kid, but just had to wear my pancreas on my hip instead of inside my body. Instead of being embarrassed, I learned how to take care of myself, and along with support from my parents, have not let diabetes stop me from anything. I learned how to eat healthy and train appropriately. I probably have more knowledge about nutrition than most medical professionals. While there are some hard days, when my sugar drops and I feel physically ill, or when technology fails and I become frustrated – but overall, I have overcome and use diabetes as a strength instead of a weakness. Through this experience, I learned how to transform adversity into motivation. My dedication paid off, as I was nominated for Second Team All-Metro two years in a row and earned recognition as the second-best center in my county. I was also invited to compete in the Cure All Stars game. These achievements represent more than athletic success; they reflect the perseverance and work ethic developed over time. Dealing with a chronic illness is sometimes challenging, but learning through this process has shaped my character. It taught me how to face setbacks with determination; a lesson I will carry with me into college and beyond. I know now that when faced with adversity, whether temporary or permanent, I can overcome any setback with hard work, determination, prayer and family support. I will be playing D3 football at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this fall, studying civil engineering and quantum computing. My diabetes will be along for the ride and I look forward to the challenge!

Adversity comes in many forms, and everyone, especially athletes, learn how to deal with some kind of adversity during their lifetime. For an athlete with a disability, adversity is just part of the game. For me, my challenge has been learning to manage type 1 diabetes as a football player. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes, a permanent, life-long diagnosis with no cure, at nine years old. I had to learn how to give myself daily insulin injections and manage my blood sugar to keep myself alive. When I was first diagnosed, I was embarrassed. I didn’t want to have to explain that I was different. On the field, there were frustrating days that my sugar would drop low and I would have to leave the field to eat immediately. Or days that my sugar would be high and I would feel sluggish and sick. There were days I felt betrayed by my own body, and frustrated that I had to work so hard to keep my blood sugar in range, while everyone else got to go on every day without thinking about a chronic disease. But over time, I realized that I was not different - I was the same as every other kid, but just had to wear my pancreas on my hip instead of inside my body. Instead of being embarrassed, I learned how to take care of myself, and along with support from my parents, have not let diabetes stop me from anything. I learned how to eat healthy and train appropriately. I probably have more knowledge about nutrition than most medical professionals. While there are some hard days, when my sugar drops and I feel physically ill, or when technology fails and I become frustrated – but overall, I have overcome and use diabetes as a strength instead of a weakness. Through this experience, I learned how to transform adversity into motivation. My dedication paid off, as I was nominated for Second Team All-Metro two years in a row and earned recognition as the second-best center in my county. I was also invited to compete in the Cure All Stars game. These achievements represent more than athletic success; they reflect the perseverance and work ethic developed over time. Dealing with a chronic illness is sometimes challenging, but learning through this process has shaped my character. It taught me how to face setbacks with determination; a lesson I will carry with me into college and beyond. I know now that when faced with adversity, whether temporary or permanent, I can overcome any setback with hard work, determination, prayer and family support. I will be playing D3 football at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute this fall, studying civil engineering and quantum computing. My diabetes will be along for the ride.

When I began to think about how to reply to this prompt, I had a difficult time thinking of an angle. I considered writing about telling kids I was a robot when they would ask me about the glucose monitor on my arm, or about having to leave the football field to eat a snack because my sugar was dropping quickly and diabetes doesn’t care that it’s a playoff game. I thought about writing about being embarrassed when my insulin pump beeped during a calculus exam, worried that I was distracting others in the silent room. I thought of several examples of how diabetes got in the way of daily life. But while each of these examples happened, they happened and life went on. Living with type 1 diabetes means constant monitoring, constant questioning, constant explaining. I read somewhere that type 1 diabetics make hundreds of decisions more each day than a non type 1 individual. I am in no way downplaying the impact of type 1 on my daily life. However, I think the manner in which my experience with diabetes has most shaped me can be summed up into one word: Resilience. I have learned that I can get through anything, and achieve any goal, by being resilient. Since my diagnosis at age 9, I have been on a competitive swim team, I have been the boys’ gymnastics state vault champion two years in a row for level 4 vault, I have been awarded the Disney Dreamer and Doer award; I have played 4 years of varsity football, being named Second Team All Metro Center two years in a row. I have been a part of the Fellowship for Christian Athletes, Best Buddies and Spike Ball clubs. I have been inducted into the National Honor Society and National Science Honor Society. I have worked part time all four years of high school, and completed two internships too. And through it all, diabetes has come along for the ride, like a program running in the background of a computer. This fall, I will continue to achieve my goals while I move 3,000 miles away from my family to attend Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to study civil engineering and quantum computing. I will play football for the RPI Engineers. I will work, join clubs, participate in events and internships. Type 1 diabetes will be there, always along for the ride - but while diabetes may sometimes slow me down, it wll never stop me from achieving my goals. I thank my experience with T1D for teaching me resiliency, because this is a skill that will get me far in college and beyond.