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?"

My advice is to focus on what you can control. In general, it is easy to get caught up in the "what if's" in life but if there is one thing a worldwide pandemic has taught me is that so much of this life is out of our control. A little self-searching will reveal what we can do to stay safe and promote a healthy environment. Of course, not everyone will have the same views and practice safety in the same way as us, but when have they ever done so? As someone with a chronic illness, we are accustomed to staying safe and prioritizing our health. Throughout the pandemic, I have been able to educate the community on practices those with chronic illnesses used daily before the pandemic. We can focus on what we can control which is how we support our health, protect and educate our communities, and live in a way that leaves no room for regrets. Turning our fear into a passion for education and support is what will sustain our well-being.