I am Nafisa and l am seventeen years old and in my last year of high school and I really want to be a nurse/doctor so I can help people feel a little bit better. When I was in 3rd grade, I was first diagnosed with type one diabetes, which led me to be in the hospital almost every other day. I never really managed my health since I was a kid, not thinking about how this could really affect me. When I was in 8th grade, I had a really bad DKA, which led me to be depressed and have really bad anxiety, not just about my health but about everything in general. In the 9th grade, I chose to go to homeschool since I was going through a lot that year. Going to homeschool as an overachiever was not ideal since there wasn’t much opportunity as in a regular high school. I always felt behind from everyone else. My parents immigrated to the US and faced a lot of discrimination, and I felt I was not using the opportunity that they made for me. I never really ever showed signs of depression since I didn’t want people around me to always worry. One day I went in for a check-up and learned that the nurse that was assigned to me also had type one diabetes. She helped me understand a lot about my body and health and reassured me that I am going to be okay and get better. Now I take care of my health and others around me. I want to go into nursing school to help all teens and children who don’t really know how to take care of themselves, and I want people to not see the hospital in a negative light but somewhere you go to feel better.

• Boxing

  Intramural

  2022 – 2025

• Ambassador

  Native biodiversity corps · Botany/Plant Biology

  2025 – Present

  Research topic:

  Native biodiversity corps

• Host

  Poetry showcase · Performance Art

  2022 – 2022