Meet the 2023 Scholars

"Write a letter to your younger self during a key moment in your life addressing one or more of the following: words of encouragement, lessons you have learned and/or challenges you have overcome."

The summer before 7th grade I was diagnosed with Cystic Fibrosis. I remember crying before I knew what CF was, just the feeling of being “diseased” made me feel inferior. Then it was all the tests; blood draws when I had been terrified of needles, blowing out birthday candles on a breathing test, measuring the amount of sweat that came from my elbow, and being put in a tube while albuterol was sprayed into my throat. Then came the comic books trying to explain what CF was in little cartoons. And of course the treatment instructions and tools I took home. Through all the doctors, nurses, treatments, tests, and questions, my young 11-year-old self took to the 7th grade feeling less confident than ever. I tried my best to keep my diagnosis a secret from my classmates, but I would always get little reminders, like having to test in a separate room, or having cystic acne, which was a target for taunting. Even having a bright red “504” next to my name on the attendance sheet in the front of the classroom. As an exceptionally bright kid as I was, the extra time on certain tests felt like torture, being in an environment with other kids who needed more attention than I did. More than anything, I felt embarrassed to be different. I could tell that my peers knew I was a little off. When I needed to fit in the most, I felt belittled by the awkwardness that CF gave me. Today, I have come to terms with my diagnosis. I am unapologetically myself. I have no problem telling my friends that I have Cystic Fibrosis. Other parts of my life help cope with my symptoms. But I think the most rewarding part of my experiences is that I know I have a purpose in my future. I am privileged to have access to all of the doctors and resources that my community has to help me, and although I cannot help other children with CF due to my diagnosis, I found inspiration in an artistic outlet. Ceramics, a longtime passion of mine, gave me a solid background in manual control and dexterity. By applying my manual art techniques to my esteem for science, I have found that a career in Dentistry will be fitting for me. Dentistry meets my academic and artistic enjoyment and my aspiration to help others. I want to communicate that having an imperfection is more common than not. I plan to aid others and help them feel secure in their own bodies, embrace their differences, and help them stay healthy.