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"Consider the positive influence you aspire to have as someone living with cystic fibrosis. How do you hope to inspire and empower future generations of young adults with chronic illnesses?"

One of the most overlooked challenges of living with Cystic Fibrosis (CF) is the overwhelming financial burden, particularly when it comes to accessing and caring for service animals. While many medical treatments are covered by insurance, the ongoing costs of acquiring, training, and maintaining service animals, which can dramatically improve the lives of people with CF, are typically not. For individuals with CF, having a service animal can be life changing. However, the expense puts that possibility out of reach for most patients. When I was younger and first learned of my Cystic Fibrosis diagnosis, I often dreamt of having a service dog. These dogs can do more than just assist physically, they can offer constant companionship and emotional support during difficult treatments and long hospital stays. At the time, however, getting an assistance dog was not an available option for my family. That disappointment stayed with me, but it also sparked a lifelong goal: to become a veterinarian. This way I can help make service animals more accessible and affordable for people like me. My journey has not only been shaped by CF. At age 10, I became deaf due to necessary medical treatments and now have bilateral cochlear implants. Losing my hearing so young added another layer of challenge to my life, especially when navigating the complex world of healthcare and education. But it also taught me resilience and patience. My implants opened new possibilities, but they never erased the feeling of being different. Over time, I have realized that these experiences provided me with a unique perspective and a powerful sense of empathy. Becoming a veterinarian is more than a career aspiration, it is a personal goal. Service animals deserve the same level of veterinary care as any other animal, but for families already stretched thin by the cost of managing increasing medical costs, those vet bills can become another major barrier. As someone who understands that struggle firsthand, I want to be part of the solution. As a future veterinarian, I hope to offer free or heavily discounted care for service animals belonging to people with CF and other rare diseases. In addition, I want to create a clinical environment where people feel supported, not just medically but also emotionally. My dream is to help lift the financial burden so that someone who needs a service animal, can obtain and maintain that service animal. Helping even one person receive the support they need because of my efforts would be a victory, but I believe real change starts with one person and one idea. Pursuing a veterinary education is the first step toward turning my personal challenges into purposeful change. I want to bring more care, comfort, and dignity to the lives of people who often feel overlooked, and to the animals that help them thrive. I hope that my personal story and goals will inspire future generations to feel empowered so that they too will go after their dreams.