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? "

In my first year of college, I was hospitalized briefly for mental health issues and taken off all medications for my CF, including a clinical trial medication that had greatly improved my quality of life. Within 2 days, a respiratory therapist who was listening to my lungs told me that the left one, my historically bad one, had "taken a while to wake up." Just like that, I felt the fear and anxiety that always comes with remembering I have CF. After a few years of feeling like I could live a more normal life with less hospitalizations, I became the same little girl who sat underneath fairy lights and put legos together in a hospital bed for 15 years. The worst part of it being that now I was all alone. I think the hardest habit and thought process I learned from CF is that I am strong. Anytime I was sick or doing a treatment or complaining about my reality, I was reminded that I am so strong. When I had gotten to the point where I needed help and was struggling, I was too afraid to ask because I am strong and to me that had always meant that I had to figure it out for myself. The only thing that saved my life this time around was not a miracle drug but admitting I needed help. Since this hospitalization, I have completely changed my life. I am now pursuing a different major more focused on my love of writing and filmmaking. I live with friends I love and trust. I travel by myself, which can be very intimidating for someone with CF. I run two student organizations on campus and am not afraid to make my voice heard. I have learned to live with my CF and changed my medications to allow me more mental clarity and peace. Most importantly, I always, always call my parents or someone I love when I need help or a friend. I know now that it's ok and natural to not always be strong.