Meet the 2019 Scholars

"Choose one inspirational quote or motto that has helped you throughout your journey with cystic fibrosis. How do you live by your quote or motto and how has it motivated you to accomplish your goals?"

“You do not wake up and become a butterfly - growth is a process”: these words have helped me through the past couple years. There have most definitely been times that I have doubted myself and wanted to give up on my goals and dreams because I believed I was too sick to pursue them. My passion is singing and musical theatre; however, there have been many times where it is necessary for me to perform but I am ill and coughing, times in which I could barely breathe, times when I had to sing but my voice was damaged from coughing: I still had to go on. I began doubting my own abilities because of my illness, after all, when I look at all the other musical theatre students around me, they do not have any worries about these things happening to them. I developed a sense of shame. I felt less than everyone around me in terms of talent. This quote got me out of my funk. I have it hung up in my room to remind me every day that I am on my own path. I cannot compare my journey to others. I will become who I am meant to be. I was inspired to continue my path in musical theatre. I worked hard and am now on my way towards receiving a degree in theatre at Florida State University, which was a major goal of mine. CF cannot prevent me from following my dreams.