I was nervous about deciding to go to college — how would CF and the intensity of college fit together? There have been more than a few bumps along the way, but I’ve learned that through everything, I got this.
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I initially struggled with how to share about my cystic fibrosis with people I met when I started college. Here’s what I learned.
I began volunteering as a way to support my cousin with CF. But over time, I discovered the community and impact that can come from even the smallest efforts.
We’re highlighting three creators who are helping raise cystic fibrosis awareness. They’re voicing the variety of ways that people experience the disease by sharing a part of their life through their works.
Driven by a career in community health and a late cystic fibrosis diagnosis, I discovered my purpose through volunteering with the CF Foundation. Inspired by the power of connecting with my peers, I went on to develop my own program designed to support other adults in the CF community.
When I was in college, I wanted to do it all and my health wasn’t as much of a priority anymore. I learned to accept that things will not always go according to plan and to integrate routine in my life to ensure my health comes first.
When I went off to college it was up to me to manage my cystic fibrosis for the first time without help from my family. I felt fine after skipping my medications and decided to stop using my noisy vest because it embarrassed me, and I wanted to make friends at my new school. As a result, I stayed in the hospital for a few weeks and left with a new perspective on life.
When the pandemic started, I started to feel lost and disconnected. That changed when I was introduced to a new program from the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation that taught me how to share my CF story with confidence.
From a young age, I was determined that cystic fibrosis would never stop me from pursuing my dreams in the medical field. It wasn’t until I hit a road bump in pharmacy school that I realized my CF could actually give me a unique advantage.
I have always been very interested in science, eventually leading to my career as a genomic scientist. My curiosity helped me cope with the uncertainties of cystic fibrosis, leading me to many academic, professional, and personal opportunities that gave me a more expansive view of how my different roles and identities can build upon one another.