The testing, diagnosis, and treatment of my autoimmune disease has been the most challenging experience of my life. In 2016 and 2018, I learned I have Autoimmune Hepatitis (AIH) and Primary Biliary Cholangitis (PBC), two autoimmune diseases that attack my liver. I also have secondary Raynaud’s disease as a side effect of these two autoimmune diseases, which reduces blood flow in my fingers in response to cold temperatures. It can be difficult to explain the complexity of coping with chronic illness. I have felt both intense gratitude and intense grief at the same time. I grieve the lasting side effects of my medication, my inability to play in the snow with my son due to Raynaud’s, and the experiences I lost to intense fatigue. I am grateful for modern medicine, attentive and skilled physicians, and the catalyst for my personal inner growth as a result of this life-changing experience. While my medication did its work on my body. I used the time to work on my mind and heart. I began therapy, connected with others on a similar path, and became an advocate for my health. I took two certification programs, one in yoga and mindfulness, and one in meditation. I began by healing myself, inside and out. I learned self-compassion, and how to hold space for my own needs. I learned that self-care and wellness are non-negotiable. When I felt physically limited due to my treatment, I found space within myself that was capable of growth and continued moving forward. As I healed physically, it became clear I had also healed mentally and emotionally in the process. At that point, I started using my new skills to hold space and remove barriers for others. I used my yoga, mindfulness, and meditation certifications to open a small business to help working moms with self-care and stress relief. I taught workshops on coping with chronic illness through meditation, and positive affirmations to overcome mom guilt. In 2022, I published a book filled with five-minute self-care practices for working moms. Now, I feel called to do even more. I feel most alive when I use my creativity to solve problems and innovate ways to support growth in others. After ten years of teaching K-12 music, I am excited to take the next step in my career and make the transition from the music room to the main office as a school administrator. That is why I am pursuing a graduate degree in school building and school district leadership. At one point in my life, my autoimmune diseases consumed my identity. It took three years of active treatment to reach chemical remission, and my autoimmune diseases have been stable for three years. What I learned along the way has been invaluable, and I am looking forward to more opportunities to use my strengths to support others. Being selected for a Chronic Boss scholarship would mean the world to me, and would both support my studies and minimize the financial burden on my family. Thank you for the opportunity.