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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?"

I spent my childhood convinced that denying my diagnosis might keep it from defining me. I measured my days by the number of treatments left, not by the dreams I'd yet to chase. Each hospital stay seemed to reflect a life half-lived, like CF took up too much of my story. I was unwilling to accept that CF was something I couldn't get rid of and something that would shape who I was. My stubborn refusal to even acknowledge my CF was something I dealt with every day. That resistance only led to the realization that fighting CF just amplified its presence. In 2011, I received a life-saving liver transplant. As time progressed, it dawned on me that I was no longer living this life just for myself. My existence is intertwined with the memory of the donor who made my life possible. Understanding what the complete injustice of throwing this opportunity away would be, both to myself and to the individual who granted it, compelled me to make something more of myself through purposeful living. Embracing CF does not mean surrender; it means that my life, with all its setbacks and uncertainties, is still fully mine to live. I began to channel my resistance into purpose, finding any way to live my life to its fullest. I found solace in self-advocacy, making sure I have all I need to continue doing the things I love like making music, traveling, creating and being around the people I love. Despite my diagnosis, I have worked hard to ensure the life I was given is one that is rich in color. I dive deep into my passions and try new things every day. Throughout my academic pursuit, I have been able to flourish and refine my skills and passion for the work I do because of this mindset. CF has only fueled my fire and pushed me to be more than a statistic. Each achievement has become proof of what will happen when you embrace what is given to you instead wasting time wishing for something else. Now as I look ahead into my graduate studies and career, I reflect on a phrase that sticks with me: "In the end, it always does." Life will unfold as it will, but it is our job to embrace the hand we are dealt and play it with purpose. By demonstrating what is possible, I hope to show future generations of young adults with CF that chronic illness is not a limitation, but an opportunity to chart your own course.