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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?"

During my time throughout elementary to high school, I was always ashamed of my cystic fibrosis. Being different then the majority of students was scary for me. I never saw my chronic illness being represented and I felt like an outcast. I knew once people found out about my disability I would be labeled as weird, and I would be treated differently. I was treated as if I was helpless and a pity case. I knew I was stronger than what people made me out to be. As a future high school teacher, I will not forget what it was like growing up with a chronic illness and being terrified of being seen as different and treated differently. Whether certain students have a chronic illness or not, this fear of being different or bullied still affects how they act in classroom settings and how they go about their everyday life. Having this authority and impact as a future teacher, I will shed a positive light on how living with a chronic illness cannot stop you and that you are more than just your diagnosis. Part of why I want to become a high school teacher is to inspire and empower future generations of all students, those with and without chronic illnesses. Having that representation of a teacher with a chronic illness is rare, but very crucial. I am excited to be that positive role model and representation for students with chronic illnesses, but specifically for those with cystic fibrosis, as I have not yet seen that for myself. Just having some sort of representation of a disability is important in breaking the stigma that having a disability makes you weird, weak, or less than the average person without a disability. I plan on doing this by giving every student a voice, telling my story, and making my classroom a safe and inclusive space for all. I am going to meet students where they are and help build their education, spirit, and confidence up from there. All students, with or without chronic disabilities, should be given equal opportunities and feel important. I want to make this possible for all students. I will show that even if you have a disability, you can achieve your goals, the same way I did. No matter how hard it is, what battles you go through, the pain, the stress, you will be able to do it.