Meet the 2022 Scholars

"2022 marks the 30th anniversary of the AbbVie CF Scholarship. As we celebrate this milestone, we look forward to continuing to recognize more students pursing their educational goals. Please share your future ambitions in the Cystic Fibrosis community, professionally and personally."

Being able to confidently plan for a future is something that many people take for granted. Living with a terminal illness like Cystic Fibrosis can mean that individuals like myself have to learn to come to terms with the uncertainty of the future. However, I'm extremely thankful for the immense amount of research and funding that has helped the CF community get to where it is today. Thanks to the life-changing advancements they have made, I can confidently plan for a fruitful and accomplished future. I have always been a goal-oriented person. Having goals to be met have served as the fuel I've needed to pursue my passions to the best of my ability. I plan to continue fundraising for the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in the annual Great Strides Walkathons. Every year, my family and I advertise the walkathon to get as many family and friends to join our team in walking for a cure. Thanks to them, we are able to collect anywhere from $3,000-$6,000 in donations each year. As a future occupational therapist, I would love to make a difference in the lives of all individuals, but specifically, the lives of others with CF. Although being in close contact with other individuals with CF isn't ideal, I would love to work on research that can help CF patients increase their overall independence both in and out of the hospital. As of last month, I graduated summa cum laude from the Honor's College at Florida International University (FIU) where I earned my Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree in Rehabilitation and Recreational Therapy. This small milestone is just one of the many I plan to check off my list of educational endeavors. Several days before graduation, I was accepted into the Master of Science in Occupational Therapy (MS-OT) program at FIU and I plan to begin this upcoming August. Once I graduate with my master's degree in OT, I plan to take the NBCOT to become a licensed occupational therapist. However, I know I will not stop there. Although at this point I would have completed all the necessary requirements in order to become a practicing occupational therapist, I plan to continue my education by earning several different accredited certificates such as play therapy, registered behavioral therapist, etc. And lastly, in terms of my personal goals, I want to continue strengthening my overall health by working out, eating healthy, and taking care of my mental health. At the end of the day, I will only be able to be a successful health care professional if I take care of my health first. I know that without prioritizing my health, I will not be able to serve others and give them the quality of care they deserve. Therefore, I will continue to do my best in maintaining a healthy lifestyle which will allow me to continue to reach many more milestones throughout my lifetime.