I have always wanted to be a teacher. My dad is a professor so it was always an idea but from the second I stepped into my first grade class I knew that this was my future. I eventually figured out that teaching small children where I wanted to be. Their innocence and amazement in the world is one of my favorite things. Whether through babysitting or volunteering, I just love being around kids. However, my path to get here has had some challenges. In seventh grade, I was diagnosed with Hidradenitis Suppurativa, a chronic skin condition. Over the next four years, as my condition got worse, I struggled with not only the physical toll but a mental one too. I felt isolated and alone, eventually stopped advocating for myself in doctors offices, making my condition even worse. It wasn't until my junior year that I found the courage to reclaim my voice and seek proper treatment. With new treatments, and diet changes, I've started a journey of healing and realized the importance of self-advocacy. My perspective on health and well-being has changed exponentially through this journey, instilling in me a deep-seated desire to empower others, especially young children, to prioritize their own self-care. As a future educator, I aspire to inspire my students not only academically but also in matters of self-care. I imagine creating a classroom environment where students know the importance of advocating for themselves. Hopefully setting them up for a future where they can always show up for themselves. By creating a community that fosters self-empowerment I hope I can aspire young, African American students to have confidence when they face challenges. Despite my own life challenges, I hope my students can be inspired by and proud of the teacher in front of them.

Doctor's appointments are often accompanied by a sense of unease. The sterile atmosphere, the clinical jargon, or the fear of what might be discovered, doctor's offices often bring forth a mix of emotions. For me, this unease had become a constant companion while trying to control my skin condition. My experiences within the healthcare system led to a profound transformation in my approach to resilience. I discovered the importance of advocating for oneself in those moments of vulnerability and the impact it can have on one's well-being. This journey, though deeply personal, has made me want to share my story with others, showing the power of resilience in the face of adversity and hopefully inspiring others who may be going through similar things. I was first diagnosed in the 6th grade. I found a small boil and I showed my mom because I didn’t know what it was. We went to the dermatologist not knowing this would become a place I visited a lot over the next few years. The doctor told me that what I had was called “hiddradentis supprativa”. A “chronic inflammatory skin condition with lesions including deep-seated nodules and abscesses, draining tracts, and fibrotic scars.” I had a very mild case at the time, so she just prescribed me some antibiotics and a cream. Over the years more and more lesions would pop up, eventually to the point where it was uncomfortable to even completely lift my arms. I became a regular at the doctors office. She suggested I get steroids shot regularly.We would later learn how temporary of a cure it was and how painful the shot was. The shot is a painful, burning liquid stabbed directly into the sensitive area of the lesion. As my condition progressed it became more and more frustrating. I eventually went on a biologic medication called “Humira”. It did not help me at all. Every time I had an appointment with this doctor she would just rehash the definition of my condition, offering no solution. Slowly I gained an avoidance of doctor’s offices. It continued to get worse. It became painful to walk, sit, and even to bathe. I felt hopeless. I was scared that my body would never move freely again. I finally told my mother the explicit details of what my condition has become and we became determined to get me help. We tried doctor after doctor. Medication after Medication. Until I went to a new doctor, Dr. Bitar. She told us of another medication, the other doctor never mentioned. I started it. Not only were my physical symptoms improving but I felt better than I had in years. Being finally taken seriously for the pain I was enduring daily was such a great relief. In conclusion, my journey from a place of pain and and discomfort with HS to a more hopeful reality was shaped by learning to advocate for myself. For years, I pushed through the pain. I went to school and pretended like nothing was wrong. I tried to fight through it. Through this experience with the healthcare system, I found the significance in advocating for yourself. I learned that resilience is not only found in pushing through the pain but in fighting for yourself and asking for help even if you feel hopeless.