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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?"

"Life is a journey, not a destination", a phrase often used to remind us to enjoy our lives and not be so focused on the outcome. My journey with cystic fibrosis (CF) has had its ups and downs, but it has definitely motivated me to advocate for and to personally work towards raising awareness of the disease, supporting treatments, and eventually, to help find a cure for CF. I do focus on this particular destination! For those of us with CF and our families, advocacy in the areas of research and drug development, specialized medical and mental health care, and local, state, and federal policy plays a crucial role in the fight against CF. It has been instrumental in keeping me healthy. To give back to a community that has given so much to my family and me, I have participated in several activities designed to fundraise, educate others, raise awareness of the disease, and use my voice to speak out for the CF community. Since middle school, I've given many educational lectures, created pamphlets and brochures, and volunteered multiple times for CF-related events. In 2023, I was a part of the CFF Teen Advocacy Day, in which I spoke to Congressional leaders and urged the passage of specific bills related to CF. In 2024, I was honored with the 2023 Advocate Award from the SC CFF. This award recognized the hard work and dedication that I put forth as a 16-year-old, and further motivated me to advocate on behalf of my community. Since that time, I have participated in the Boomer Esiason Foundation's Policy and Advocacy Fellowship, where I learned how to advocate on a bigger stage. This summer, I will be an intern for the CFF's Teen Advocacy Day, where I will help organize and plan the event as well as educate the teen volunteers on advocacy and effective communication. In addition to advocacy, having CF fostered my curiosity for the sciences and my desire to become a researcher and scientist, specifically in the area of genetics. I am currently majoring in biology and have spent this semester in a biomedical program in Copenhagen, touring research facilities and learning how research is conducted outside of the US. As gene therapies become a reality, I see a real promise for a cure to CF and want to participate in finding that cure, if one isn't found before then. I am hopeful! The journey of having CF has given me a focus and purpose. I won't stop applying myself to this cause, whether it be through advocacy or my professional endeavors, until the destination ends with CF standing for "cure found".