Meet the 2024 Scholars

"Describe a defining moment in your journey with CF that sparked personal growth or resilience. How did this experience affect you and what did you learn from this moment?"

A defining moment in my journey with CF was when at the age of 12 I was able to go on a new medication that was the first of its kind for people living with CF. This medicine seemed like the perfect next major step for people with CF, and when I started taking it, I saw the impact almost right away. This was a moment that sparked personal growth because it allowed me to see a brighter future for myself, in achieving all the things I wanted to achieve in life. Before starting this medication, I wasn't sure because the futures for people with CF seemed unknown. As long as I can remember I knew I wanted to continue my education and take on a career path in the medical field. This was something I wasn't sure would be feasible though because I had cystic fibrosis, but deep down I knew that I could give patients the best care possible because I had a different perspective to share. I am currently attending D'Youville University to earn my BSN in Nursing and eventually plan to continue my education to become a Nurse Anesthetist. My desire to work in healthcare comes from my hope to be my patient's source of comfort and stability in unfamiliar and difficult situations. I hope to utilize my past experiences as a patient to commit to providing compassionate care as I have received from my care team in the past. I believe that everything happens for a reason and the creation of this medicine has given so much hope to the CF community. Being on this medication has given me a more healthy and "normal" life and is the reason I am where I am today. I hope to live out a long life having a positive impact on other people lives.