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."

Henry David Thoreau once said, “What you get by achieving your goals is not as important as what you become by achieving your goals.” Considering this, I realize my future ambitions cannot solely be based on my self-interest, but must also place significant consideration on the enduring impact I will leave on the world. My ambitions must embrace who I want to become, both professionally and personally. They are multifaceted and center primarily on the ability to consistently demonstrate a life filled with courage, determination, and excellence. Utilizing these attributes will lead me toward a college degree in electrical engineering and a successful career, where I can make valuable contributions in my field of expertise and inspire younger generations, specifically those diagnosed with cystic fibrosis (CF). For those diagnosed with CF, such as myself, there is no denying the unique challenges we face in our day-to-day lives. Since my earliest memory, I have spent an immeasurable amount of time doing everything it takes to thrive. Hours of daily breathing treatments and chest physical therapy, countless medications, and frequent hospital visits are time-consuming. Although it is difficult, I have learned to prioritize my health and carefully coordinate my medical needs with outside activities. With support and encouragement from family and friends, I have played soccer, graduated high school with honors, began college, and completed two internships. Overall, CF makes life more challenging, but through discipline, resilience, and support, I have gratefully experienced achievement and look forward to a future full of opportunity and success. Professionally, the possibilities remain endless in engineering, where its presence stretches across every enterprise from healthcare to the oil and gas industry. I will exceed expectations in remarkable ways by surpassing boundaries while effectively applying my time and resources. By example, I am prepared to motivate and lead others to excellence. As the Greek philosopher, Aristotle, once said: “We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then is not an act, but a habit.” Most importantly, in the wake of reaching my future ambitions, I am determined to inspire others on a personal level, specifically those in the CF community. Mentoring young people with sound advice and inspiring them by example is oftentimes forgotten today, but I value its relevance. The ability to encourage others is a treasured gem - a rarity that is commonly considered unnecessary in today’s busy world. To inspire younger generations and ignite a spark in them to seek for themselves more than a degree or job title is of the utmost importance to me. Overall, with courage, determination, and excellence, I plan to press forward and strive for the mark set before me in this lifetime. By focusing more on what I am “becoming” through my success and less on what I am “achieving” through it, I will discover the summit of what I deem success holds joy and fulfillment. More importantly, I hope my lifelong efforts lead to lasting, positive change in the world and leave an enduring impact on future generations.