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.
Site Search
I initially struggled with how to share about my cystic fibrosis with people I met when I started college. Here’s what I learned.
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.
This year’s awardees showcase the diversity of journeys in the cystic fibrosis community.