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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?"

I once thought that finding meaning required time, achievement, and life experience, but I have learned that it can be found from the very beginning. A few months after I was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis, my parents received a call from my doctor. After reviewing my tests again, they found I was pancreatic sufficient. As this news was being delivered, a butterfly was repeatedly pounding against the nearby window—BAM. BANG. My grandmother, Shirley Mae Gass, was obsessed with these creatures. To her, they were a symbol of beauty and resilience. She had died weeks before I was born, yet I believe in that moment, she was with me. I didn't have to be alone. Regardless of how challenging this disease would be, my journey with CF could be about defying odds and finding purpose through my adversity. It took me time to understand this. For years, I was extremely angry that I had to suffer from my disease. I sought out a reason for my misfortune. However, this explanation never came; my path inevitably required acceptance. In this struggle, I have learned how easy it is to perceive life as meaningless, especially when facing adversity. I wish to show others that even when suffering has no explanation, it can still hold great meaning. To me, this meaning lies in how CF has allowed me to find my true voice through vulnerability—sharing my real thoughts, feelings, and experiences with other people. The first time I had a friend over to my house, I insisted on hiding my treatment to avoid being perceived as different. Since I wasn't comfortable sharing my struggles, I began writing poetry to channel my feelings into expression. In this process, I discovered I had a voice unlike anyone else I had ever met—sharp, distinctive, and deeply personal. I grew confident in my writing and started sharing it with others. Although it felt risky, this was the first time I had ever felt truly understood by someone who didn't share my diagnosis. In doing so, I learned that authenticity fosters healing and human connection. I began taking on a more active role as a leader of our CF charity team—Nick and Hayden's Heroes. For so long, I avoided vulnerability because of the risk of rejection; I know many others can relate. As an author, motivational speaker, and CF advocate, I wish to help people embrace their differences and understand others, so they can connect more deeply and feel empowered to inspire others. I always wanted nothing more than to feel normal. One day, I learned that other people seek the opposite—to be different and to stand out. This inspired me. No matter what my challenges are, I have the capacity to soar, just like my grandmother embodied—to keep flying, to find meaning, and most importantly, to love myself so deeply. My diagnosis with CF has transformed me inside and out. I love myself more because of these sixty-five roses in my own garden of purpose.