I began my journey with autoimmune disorders when I was fifteen years old. At the time, I had no idea what was wrong with me. All I knew was that my body hurt everyday, and it often took all of my energy to take my dogs on walks, do simple chores like washing the dishes or even going to school. I’d always attributed my constant exhaustion to school, as I was an active kid who loved my extracurriculars and cared immensely about my academics. When COVID hit and everyone was forced to stay home, I truly realized how much my fatigue, body aches, and brain fog were affecting me. Due to the pandemic, it wasn’t safe to go to see a doctor when I made these realizations. I was forced to wait months to first get an appointment with my doctor, and longer to get an appointment with a rheumatologist. When I finally was able to get in, my diagnoses were still unclear. I was given medication to help with the symptoms, but to this day I still struggle with intense flare ups while trying to navigate the stigmas of having an invisible illness. Going back to school post-pandemic was a struggle. I’d gotten used to being able to take care of my body in a whole new way while at home, and going back to school for eight to nine hours a day proved to be a challenge. There were many days I would be forced to step out of class due to a flare-up, or would be up late at night finishing assignments for my International Baccalaureate diploma, having to push through a flare to get my work in on time. Though my teachers were often understanding, those who didn’t know me well were not as compassionate about my situation since it was not visible to the eye. I am now nearly four years post-diagnosis, and I know more about my body now than ever before. Receiving this diagnosis has prompted me to do extensive research to not only help myself, but also to be able to teach others about these conditions. This research has bettered my academics in many ways, mainly because I’ve learned that my struggle is not out of laziness but instead a real health condition, something I cannot control. I know now that I am not always going to have the same level of energy as my peers, and that when I am having a harder time than usual, it is more beneficial to allow myself a break rather than to continue to be hard on myself, which has ultimately allowed me to produce better work. Doing all this research has let me to grow stronger as a student, employee, friend, daughter, and everything in between. I’ve been able to gain a lot of respect and patience for people with invisible illnesses because I know just how hard it is to deal with them. It’s unfortunate that very few people are aware of what autoimmune disorders actually are, and how they can affect people’s everyday lives. Even with the research I’ve tried to do to learn about my condition, there is still little information on autoimmune disorders to begin with. Even my doctors are unable to give me concrete information about my situation, which makes it hard to explain to others what is going on when I don’t even have an answer myself. However, I’ve learned a lot about my condition, similar conditions, and the medical industry as a whole, and use that everyday to be stronger in all aspects of my life.