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"How has your journey with CF shaped the problems you want to solve and the impact you hope to have on others?"

Every journey with Cystic Fibrosis is different. Each patient's care and symptoms are unique to them. Each story and bend in the road will take us to the different lives we lead. And yet, one thing remains the same. Cystic Fibrosis. My journey with CF now is very different than how it began. When I was young I truly struggled, with weight, with salt, with literally just living my life as a child. It was difficult not knowing what care would look like or how things could improve. But with time things began to change for the better, and I am blessed to say that all of my constant care has been reduced to barely three pills a day. It's something that when I was born, my family and I never believed would happen. But in the years between then and now, one thing was blatantly clear. The constant lack of awareness. There was a lack of understanding, especially in how people like me-with an invisible chronic illness-are perceived and treated. I remember standing on the mat before my first wrestling match, surrounded by teammates and competitors who saw me as just another athlete. It was so freeing. Sports felt like an escape from the years of routines and setbacks from my CF. Now, sometimes I wonder if there's another athlete across from me with Cystic Fibrosis. Someone else whose story is just as hidden. The invisibility involving CF can be incredibly isolating. While I am in a much healthier place today, people do not understand the depth of the discipline, planning, and resilience in order to maintain this level of health. I've had to learn to advocate for myself, especially in sports, and explain my needs and push through moments that were different for me that I couldn't fully explain. Because of my journey with CF, I want to solve problems with the awareness and inclusion for people with chronic illnesses. I want to create a culture where people are not defined by a condition and are endlessly supported in spite of it. This means we need to change the systems, to adapt to the individuals rather than forcing the individuals to constantly adapt to systems that weren't designed with them in mind. The impact I hope to have is both practical and personal. I want to make life easier for others who navigate similar challenges, but I want to change how those challenges are perceived. Life with CF is not about the limitations, it is about the resilience and adaptability that comes from it. By sharing my experiences and working toward a meaningful change, I hope to empower others to feel seen, supported and capable of achieving their dreams.