Whether big or small, everyone has faced some sort of challenge in their life. My biggest challenge has always been my health. I have been diagnosed with multiple different medical conditions over the past 5 years. From going to school, doctor appointments, work, and not feeling good, it has become a lot to deal with. I have learned a lot over these past few years and to not let my diagnosis define who I am. In 2019, shortly before my fourteenth birthday, I started having terrible stomach pains. When I went to the doctor, she ran some tests and then sent me to a specialist where I underwent more tests and procedures before I was finally diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease. I was scared because I knew that I would be living with this disease for the rest of my life. At the very beginning of 2020, I started taking a medication called Humira. Though I have been in remission for a couple of years now, I still sometimes have stomach pains and certain foods can cause a flare. Crohn’s Disease causes extreme fatigue. I am tired all of the time so it makes me just want to lay in bed all day and do nothing, which is difficult because I am a teenager and I do want to go out and do fun things. In 2021, I started having severe back and joint pains. I started seeing another specialist and she diagnosed me with Juvenile Arthritis. I was later also diagnosed with severe migraines as well. Knowing that I will have to deal with all of these problems for the rest of my life is difficult because I have to work twice as hard as everyone else just to keep up. I have learned that things don’t always go my way and life can throw one curve ball after another. I have learned to accept my chronic illnesses and to embrace that this is how it is going to be. Even though I battle these health challenges, I still have big plans when it comes to my future. As I start college later this year, I have been thinking about what I want to major in. I plan to major in interior design and minor in photography. I am very artistic so both of these suit me very well. My goal is to have a career in interior design with a side business in photography. I am excited to see where it takes me. There will be challenges when it comes to these careers though. I will likely be running my own business for both photography and interior design. Starting and then running a business is difficult and has its own challenges. I know this because I started my own business when I was fourteen. It is very expensive and requires a lot of marketing to obtain new clients. Owning a business is hard work, long hours, and full of uncertainties all with no guaranteed paycheck. I am willing to face these challenges because I want to do what I love, and I am willing to do what it takes to be successful. Having gone through all of this, I have learned a lot about myself. Even though I am still learning how to manage my health, I plan to not let it stop me from doing what I want to do anymore. I have big dreams, and I am willing to work hard to make sure I achieve them.