For much of my life, I believed success followed a predictable timeline. I expected to complete my education, build my career, and reach my goals according to plan. Living with physical disabilities and chronic illness changed that understanding entirely. Over the past several years, I have been diagnosed with multiple chronic medical conditions, including Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, Crohn's disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, Hashimoto's disease, and Addison's disease. Many of these conditions emerged gradually, often before they were fully diagnosed or effectively treated. Pain, fatigue, frequent medical appointments, and unpredictable symptoms began shaping decisions that I had once assumed I would control. Eventually, I made the difficult decision to pause my bachelor's degree and focus on stabilizing my health while continuing to work to maintain housing, health insurance, and access to medical care. At the time, that decision felt like failure. Looking back, I recognize that it was one of the first times I learned to redefine success. My disabilities forced me to let go of the idea that progress only counts if it happens according to the original plan. They taught me resilience, adaptability, and the importance of extending grace to myself without giving up on my goals. Several specialists have encouraged me to reduce my workload or consider disability because of the complexity of my medical conditions. While I understand and appreciate those recommendations, I have remained committed to working and continuing my education because I find purpose in contributing to healthcare and supporting others. After pausing my education, I began working in healthcare, first in family medicine, then pediatrics, and eventually in pediatric endocrinology, where I now work as a Certified Medical Assistant and team lead. Leadership in my life has not looked like elected positions or extensive extracurricular involvement. Balancing full-time employment, school, and complex medical needs left little room for traditional opportunities outside of work. Instead, my leadership has developed within healthcare settings, where I train and support coworkers, mentor new employees, and help families navigate chronic illnesses that affect nearly every aspect of daily life. My own experiences as a patient have also allowed me to connect with many of the children and teenagers I care for in meaningful ways. When appropriate, I share my experiences managing Type 1 diabetes and other chronic conditions to encourage young patients who are struggling with the uncertainty and frustration that often accompany these diagnoses. One mother recently shared that her daughter frequently tells her, "Mara can do this, and I can too." Moments like that remind me that leadership is not always about titles or positions. Sometimes it is about visibility, persistence, and showing others that their diagnosis does not define what they are capable of achieving. Today, I am pursuing a degree in Nutrition and Dietetics with plans to become a registered dietitian working with pediatric patients managing chronic illness. I will use both my professional training and lived experience to help patients and families feel informed, supported, and empowered rather than overwhelmed. My disabilities changed the timeline of my goals, but they also gave those goals a depth of purpose they otherwise may never have had. Beyond school, I hope to use that perspective to improve the lives of others facing the same uncertainty, frustration, and challenges that once felt so isolating to me.

My decision to pursue a degree in healthcare has been shaped by both lived experience and a strong commitment to helping others navigate challenges similar to my own. Over the past several years, I have been diagnosed with multiple chronic medical conditions, including Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, POTS and Addison and Hashimoto's disease. These diagnoses significantly altered my educational timeline and required me to pause my bachelor’s degree while I focused on stabilizing my health. At the same time, I continued working to maintain housing, insurance, and access to care. That period of my life required persistence, adaptability, and determination that continue to shape how I approach both my education and my career. Living with chronic illness gave me a firsthand understanding of how complex and demanding disease management can be. It also showed me how critical it is for patients to have access to providers who take the time to listen, educate, and provide care that is both compassionate and practical. I experienced how overwhelming medical information can feel, particularly when it is not presented in a way that fits into everyday life. That perspective has become the foundation for the kind of healthcare professional I want to be. After pausing my education, I began working in healthcare, first in family medicine, then pediatrics, and eventually in pediatric endocrinology as a Certified Medical Assistant and team lead. In this role, I support children and families managing lifelong conditions, many of whom come from underserved communities. I work closely with patients to reinforce education, help them understand treatment plans, and support families as they navigate the daily decisions that affect long-term health. These experiences have strengthened my communication skills, deepened my empathy, and reinforced my belief that one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference in healthcare is through clear, accessible education. These experiences have driven my decision to pursue a career as a registered dietitian. I am currently working toward a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and plan to continue on to earn my master’s degree in dietetics. My goal is to work in pediatric healthcare, where I can help patients and their families better understand how nutrition impacts inflammation, disease onset and progression, and overall health outcomes. As a woman in healthcare, I hope to contribute to a field that values empathy, communication, and patient-centered care. I believe that these qualities are essential in building trust, particularly with patients who may feel overwhelmed or unheard. I also recognize the importance of representation, especially for young patients and families who benefit from seeing providers who reflect diverse perspectives and experiences. By bringing both my professional training and lived experience into my work, I hope to create a more supportive and inclusive healthcare environment. The impact I hope to make centers on bridging the gap between medical recommendations and real-life application. Too often, patients are given information that is accurate but difficult to implement. I want to provide guidance that is realistic, individualized, and sustainable, particularly for families who face financial or environmental barriers to healthy choices. Helping patients understand how daily habits influence their health can change the trajectory of their lives. Ultimately, I want to contribute to a healthcare system that not only treats disease, but empowers patients to understand and manage it. Through my career, I hope to improve both quality of life and long-term outcomes for the patients and families I serve.

There was a period of time when my life felt defined by medical appointments, uncertainty, and the question of how I would move forward. Over the past several years, I was diagnosed with multiple chronic medical conditions, including Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, Type 1 diabetes, Addison’s disease, Hashimoto’s disease and POTS. Before those diagnoses were fully understood or stabilized, I was managing symptoms that affected my ability to continue school as planned. I made the difficult decision to pause my bachelor’s degree so I could focus on my health while continuing to work to maintain housing, insurance, and access to care. Living through that experience changed how I understand healthcare. I know what it feels like to sit on the patient side, navigating uncertainty and trying to make sense of complex medical information. I also know how much it matters when a provider takes the time to explain, support, and truly listen. With my education on hold, I began working in healthcare as a Certified Medical Assistant and team lead. I currently work in a pediatric endocrinology office and support children and families managing lifelong conditions, many of whom come from underserved communities in northern Alabama. I see families doing everything they can to care for their children, often while facing financial strain, limited resources, and overwhelming amounts of information. I help guide them through appointments, reinforce education, and support them in understanding how daily decisions affect long-term health. These experiences, both personal and professional, shaped my decision to pursue a career as a registered dietitian. I am currently working toward a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and plan to continue on to graduate school. I want to work in pediatric healthcare, helping families better understand how nutrition impacts inflammation, disease progression, and overall quality of life. I plan to make a positive impact by focusing on the space where patients often struggle most: translating medical advice into real life. Many families are not lacking effort, but practical guidance that fits within their circumstances. I want to provide education that is realistic, culturally relevant, and sustainable. Whether it is helping a child stabilize blood sugar or supporting a family in making manageable dietary changes, I believe small, consistent changes can have a lasting impact. My own experience with chronic illness has also shaped how I will care for others. I understand the frustration of unpredictable symptoms and the emotional weight of managing lifelong conditions. Because of this, I am committed to approaching patients with empathy, patience, and respect, helping them feel supported rather than overwhelmed. Five years from now, I hope to be working as a registered dietitian in a pediatric healthcare setting, supporting families as they navigate chronic illness. To me, making a difference means helping patients feel more confident, informed, and capable in their daily lives. Robert F. Lawson’s legacy reflects a life dedicated to helping others. Through my career, I hope to carry that same spirit forward by supporting patients, improving access to education, and helping families build healthier, more sustainable futures.

My decision to pursue a career in the medical field has been shaped by both lived experience and the work I do every day with patients. Over the past several years, I have been diagnosed with multiple chronic medical conditions, including Crohn’s disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and Type 1 diabetes. These diagnoses required me to step back from my original academic timeline and focus on stabilizing my health while continuing to work. Living with chronic illness gave me firsthand insight into how demanding disease management can be and how critical thoughtful, patient-centered care is. After pausing my bachelor’s degree due to my health, I began using my medical assisting associate’s degree. I currently work as a Certified Medical Assistant and team lead in a pediatric endocrinology office. In this role, I support children and families managing lifelong conditions, many of whom come from underserved communities. I have seen how much families are trying to do the right things for their health, but often struggle to understand how to apply medical and nutritional guidance in their daily lives. This experience showed me that one of the most meaningful ways to make a difference in healthcare is through education that is clear, practical, and accessible. These experiences inspired me to pursue a career as a registered dietitian. I am currently earning a Bachelor of Science in Food and Nutrition and plan to continue on to graduate school to complete my master’s degree in dietetics. I want to work in pediatric healthcare, helping patients and their families better understand how nutrition impacts inflammation, disease onset and progression, and long-term health outcomes. Through my career, I plan to make a difference by focusing on the gap between medical recommendations and real-life application. Too often, patients are given information that is accurate but difficult to implement. I want to provide guidance that is realistic, individualized, and sustainable, especially for families who face financial or environmental barriers to healthy choices. This includes helping patients manage blood sugar, reduce inflammation, and build daily habits that support both their physical health and overall well-being. In my current role, I have seen how early education can change the trajectory of a child’s health. Many of the patients I work with are diagnosed at a young age with conditions that require lifelong management, yet their families often lack access to clear, practical guidance. I want to be part of changing that experience by helping families understand not just what to do, but how to do it within their daily lives and circumstances. My goal is to make nutrition education approachable, culturally relevant, and sustainable so that patients feel empowered rather than overwhelmed. My own experience as a patient has also shaped how I will approach care. I understand how frustrating it can be to manage unpredictable symptoms, and how important it is to have providers who listen, educate, and support rather than overwhelm. Because of this, I am committed to building trust with my patients and helping them feel confident in managing their health. Ultimately, I want to contribute to a healthcare system that not only treats disease, but also empowers patients to understand and manage it. By combining clinical knowledge with compassionate, patient-centered care, I hope to improve both the care patients receive and their ability to live well with chronic conditions.

I have seen firsthand how difficult it can be for families to turn nutrition guidance into something they can realistically follow in daily life. While research clearly shows the role nutrition plays in inflammation, disease progression, and long-term health outcomes, applying that guidance in real-world settings is often where patients struggle most. Through my work in pediatric endocrinology, I have seen how overwhelming medical and nutritional recommendations can feel for families managing chronic illness. Many patients and caregivers are not lacking motivation, but rather clear, practical direction that fits within their routines, resources, and daily realities. My goal is to bridge that gap by providing education that is not only scientifically accurate, but also actionable and sustainable. This often begins with simplifying complex information into manageable steps and helping families identify small, realistic changes they can maintain over time. I have also seen how early disease can develop when nutrition is not well understood. Many of the patients I work with are diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes at a young, school-age level, often before they or their families fully understand how daily habits influence long-term health. This has reinforced the importance of early education, not only for managing disease, but for preventing its progression. Helping families understand how nutrition choices contribute to inflammation and disease onset is a critical part of improving long-term outcomes. As a future registered dietitian, I plan to focus on pediatric patients managing conditions such as Type 1 diabetes, Crohn’s disease, cancer, and other inflammatory or autoimmune disorders. I would begin by helping families understand the connection between nutrition and inflammation, as well as its role in supporting the body during treatment and recovery, in a way that is accessible and relevant to their daily lives. This includes explaining how certain foods can support blood sugar stability, reduce inflammatory responses, support immune function, and improve energy levels, while also recognizing that perfection is not realistic or necessary. In cases such as cancer, where treatment can impact appetite, digestion, and energy, nutrition education can also play a critical role in helping patients maintain strength and quality of life during difficult periods. Education alone is not enough. I would work closely with patients and families to develop individualized strategies that take into account financial constraints, food access, time limitations, and personal preferences. For many families, especially those in underserved communities, barriers such as cost, availability of fresh foods, and limited nutrition education can make healthy choices difficult to maintain. In these situations, education must be adaptable, focusing on what is possible within a family’s circumstances rather than what is ideal on paper. My own experience living with chronic illness has shaped how I approach patient care. I understand how physically and emotionally demanding disease management can be, and how discouraging it can feel when recommendations are not realistic for everyday life. I also understand how much of this work happens outside of the clinic, in daily decisions that require consistency, flexibility, and resilience. Because of this, I prioritize building trust, meeting patients where they are, and helping them make meaningful progress rather than expecting immediate perfection. Ultimately, my goal is to empower patients and families with the knowledge and confidence to make informed decisions about their health. By combining evidence-based nutrition with practical, individualized support, I hope to help patients not only manage disease, but also prevent its progression and improve their overall quality of life.