Meet the 2021 Scholars

"Living through a global pandemic with a chronic illness, what is one piece of inspirational advice that you would give to other students with CF who are in the same or similar position?"

A month ago, I clicked the big, red, “end call” button on Google Meet for the last time in three classes. When the pandemic started, everything I had built my life upon had ended in one fell swoop. However, I was able to recover from the dramatic change that my life faced. I got a job, I found out what my hobbies were, cooked extravagant meals, and healed my mentality. I felt overwhelmed with happiness a month ago when I got the vaccine. For the first time, I saw hope. I saw being able to see friends again, going to concerts, having fun, and my future unfolding as the prospect of having a traditional freshman year of college was close by. Living with a chronic illness such as cystic fibrosis is an added challenge in our lives. Since I was little, I have been surrounded by doctors, taking responsibility for my health, and having the fear of illness occupy the back of my mind. Living with a chronic illness during a pandemic is just another added challenge. However, people with cystic fibrosis know first-hand how to not only deal with these challenges but thrive with them. Just as challenges have come and gone for people with CF, the challenge of living through this pandemic will also go. It will take some time, but there will always be a light at the end of the tunnel.