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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?"

Growing up with cystic fibrosis, I never imagined I could one day live a "normal" life. I spent much of my childhood visibly different, frequent coughing, sickness, and a smaller frame made it clear that something set me apart. At times, it felt like my illness defined me. Before the incredible medical advancements we now have, the future for someone like me seemed limited. But modern medicine changed that. Today, as a healthy college student at the University of North Alabama, I am living proof of what is possible. I stay active, pursue my passions, and manage my health with a balance I never dreamed of as a kid. I'm deeply involved in campus life, I participate in Greek life, stay active in the accounting department, and play intramural sports. I've made lifelong friendships and created countless memories doing things I once thought I might miss out on. Still, I haven't forgotten the battles that brought me here. The challenges I faced in the past didn't just disappear, they shaped me. I have been through 11 surgeries, multiple hospital stays, and more during my childhood. It was very hard. I had to learn to put my life at home with my family, friends, school, and sports on pause and do whatever I had to do to make sure I stayed alive. The discipline I developed during hospital stays, the perseverance I learned through treatments, and the mental strength I gained from pushing through hard days all live within me now. I draw from those experiences every day, and they've helped me become someone who's thriving in a way I once thought was not possible. My hope is to be a visible example for younger generations with chronic illnesses: that a diagnosis does not have to limit their dreams. I want to show them that they can pursue college, join clubs, chase their careers, make friends, play sports, whatever makes them feel alive. I still to this day take 50 pills a day, have to call my CF team and visit every month, do chest pt and much more to stay healthy, but I do it to show you can live with a chronic illness and still live the life you want to live. Living with CF isn't something I hide or feel ashamed of, I embrace it, because it has made me strong, empathetic, and grounded. Ultimately, I can thank Cystic Fibrosis for putting me through the hardships, lessons, ups and downs that have made me who I am today. I aspire to be more than just a student with cystic fibrosis, I want to be a source of encouragement and proof that it's possible to live a full, joyful life with a chronic illness. If I can help even one young person feel less alone or more hopeful about their future, then I know I'm making the impact I was meant to.