Brave. I was quite the opposite walking up on stage in front of over 600 people at the annual JDRF Hope Gala. A video interview about my journey with type one diabetes had just faded off the screen, the spotlight beamed in my face, and the sound of hundreds of people clapping drowned out my rapidly beating heart. I had previously delivered speeches and interviews throughout my ten years of living with type one diabetes, but nothing compared to this moment. Ever since my diagnosis, success has looked like bravery for me. Embracing any opportunities and learning new things are my pathways to be brave, and thus successful. Brave. That’s how people described me at seven years old when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I did not feel brave at the time, but that changed when I met someone else with diabetes. I no longer felt alone. Different. Overwhelmed. Afraid. I knew from that moment I had to be that person for as many people as possible. I made it my mission to embrace this challenge and work to build a community of people like me. Every year on my diagnosis anniversary, and recently every couple months, I donate a basket full of “BRAVE” canvases that I paint for my local hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. The diabetes educators at CHOA encourage each newly-diagnosed child to pick the painting that speaks to them. Every painting says “BRAVE” to remind diabetics of their determination and that they are not alone in their struggles. I have made over 500 of these canvases and every single one has a new home. Additionally, I include a letter reminding each person to be brave and to contact me if they have questions or just want to talk. Over the years I have heard from several families, but I will never forget the feeling when one mother sent me a picture of her daughter with a brave painting. She described how her 8 year old was so encouraged when she got home from the hospital and had to give herself her first insulin shot. This type of response inspires me to continue painting canvases and writing letters because of the impact it makes on each child that leaves Children’s Healthcare. Knowing that I helped that little girl be Brave is success to me. Even though I have been learning to be brave for over ten years now, diabetes is still as real to me as it was when I was sitting in the hospital listening to the doctors tell me I would have to take multiple insulin shots and finger pricks every day for the rest of my life. Incredible improvements in research and technology have taken place since my diagnosis, but these devices do not take away the questions, the stress, and the constant presence of diabetes in my mind. It’s a challenge that I have to overcome every day, and I definitely don’t always feel brave. As the closing speaker, I began my speech and slowly the nerves went away as I told my story. I addressed the audience minutes before they raised their bid cards to donate money. At the conclusion of my speech, I watched as people raised their paddles to Fund A Cure, and reflected on how many more people I can inspire to be brave. We raised over 2 million dollars that night! As I begin my college career, I will remember that bravery often becomes success and this college scholarship would be so helpful in continuing my mission to inspire others to be Brave!

I was cut from Marist Junior Varsity Tennis in 8th grade, winning only 1 game across 3 matches! I had two choices: let that moment stop me or use it as motivation. It challenged me to work harder than ever and focus on tennis. I only began concentrating on tennis and developing my skills in 8th grade, much later than all the other girls at my school. I knew I had to compete with tennis players who had all played over ten years and had experience with travel tournaments, competitive city teams, drills, and match play. So, I had to work hours upon hours each week to catch up and eventually beat them. I took weekly lessons to develop consistent yet powerful groundstrokes and volleys. Then, I began attending drills twice a week to practice with kids that were more consistent and hit harder shots. I signed up for tournaments and asked people from drills or school to practice with me so I could continue to get better. As a result of my hard work, I made the JV team in 9th grade and 10th grade. Then, after more consistent practice and dedication, I earned my spot on the Varsity tennis team in 11th grade and became a starting player my senior year. I have always enjoyed playing doubles in tournaments and ALTA matches, so that has shaped me into a reliable and strong doubles partner. I have learned that playing smart and calculated is almost as vital as hitting great shots. My doubles partner and I encourage each other and have bonded so much over the years of playing together which helps us be confident no matter who our opponent is. Throughout my 5 years of dedication to playing tennis, I have learned that the quote “hard work beats talent when talent doesn’t work hard” definitely applies. I began beating people that I thought I would have no shot at in previous years because I had worked so hard to develop the skills I have today. Am I the best player on the team? Absolutely not, they have won 5 straight state championships, but I have earned my spot. I have also learned the importance of doing first things first, such as playing tennis in the morning so that I can attend to other plans later. I could have just skipped playing tennis all those days that it was too hard, too cold outside, or too difficult to schedule, but then I would not be where I am now. Playing tennis under these circumstances has shaped my future because I have learned the power of hard work and dedication. Also, I now understand the benefits of setting and working to achieve goals because of how integral it has been in my high school career.

Brave. I was quite the opposite walking up on stage in front of over 600 people at the annual JDRF Hope Gala. A video interview about my journey with type one diabetes had just faded off the screen, the spotlight beamed in my face, and the sound of hundreds of people clapping drowned out my rapidly beating heart. I had previously delivered speeches and interviews throughout my ten years of living with type one diabetes, but nothing compared to this moment. Brave. That’s how people described me at seven years old when I was diagnosed with diabetes. I did not feel brave at the time, but that changed when I met someone else with diabetes. I no longer felt alone. Different. Overwhelmed. Afraid. I knew from that moment I had to be that person for as many people as possible. I made it my mission to embrace this challenge and work to build a community of people like me. Every year on my diagnosis anniversary, and recently every couple months, I donate a basket full of “BRAVE” canvases that I paint to my local hospital, Children’s Healthcare of Atlanta. I spend time on weekends and after school brainstorming and painting new designs. The diabetes educators at CHOA encourage each newly-diagnosed child to pick the painting that speaks to them. Every painting says “BRAVE” to remind diabetics of their determination and that they are not alone in their struggles. I have made over 500 of these canvases and every single one has a new home. I include a letter reminding each person to be brave and to contact me if they have questions or just want to talk. Over the years I have heard from several families, but I will never forget the compassion I felt when one mother sent me a picture of her daughter with a brave painting. She described how the little 8 year old was so encouraged when she got home from the hospital and had to give herself her first shot. This type of response inspires me to continue painting canvases and writing letters because of the impact it makes on each child that leaves Children’s Healthcare. Even though I have been learning to be brave for over ten years now, diabetes is still as real to me as it was when I was sitting in the hospital listening to the doctors tell me I would have to take multiple insulin shots and finger pricks every day for the rest of my life. Now, whether I eat a snack, take a test, play a tennis match, or sleep over at a friend’s house, diabetes plays a role. Incredible improvements in research and technology have taken place since my diagnosis, but these devices do not take away the questions, the stress, and the constant presence of diabetes in my mind. It’s a challenge that I have to overcome every day, and I definitely don’t always feel brave. However, I am passionate about building a community of diabetics, no matter the circumstances or difficulties. As the closing speaker, I began my speech and slowly the nerves went away as I told my story. I addressed the audience minutes before they raised their bid cards to donate money. At the conclusion of my speech, I watched as people raised their paddles to Fund A Cure, and reflected on how many more people I can inspire to be brave. We raised over 2 million dollars that night.

I was taught to be curious at an early age. Whenever I was in the car with my dad, he would always point out other cars, animals, houses, or billboards and ask me questions about them. I didn’t know it of course, but he was teaching me the skills to be a curious person. As a result, I began asking him questions about objects or people I encountered. Instead of immediately explaining something such as how an escalator works or why the leaves are changing colors, he would encourage me to think of my own answer or explanation. Then, I would get the real reasons as to why my answer was or was not correct. I want to take this curiosity with me into both my academic and professional lives. I didn’t know it then, but on December 11, 2014, I was thrust into the intersection of business, science, and technology. That’s the day I was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes, making me insulin dependent for life. As I have grown up dealing with this disease, it has brought me several opportunities that have shaped my personal goals. From my experiences with advocacy, I knew as a child that I wanted to help others. Most people see a new diagnosis like my own as a setback, but I have always wanted to be the person that broke those norms and made a difference for others like me. Advocacy and public speaking are my channels to approach difficult topics and solve real world problems, ensuring that I can make a measurable impact on the world. Starting in my own realm, I presented my story to US Representatives and Congressmen in Washington D.C. to persuade them to support funding and create greater change in research that develops new devices and therapies for people with diabetes. As a direct result of this advocacy, Congress passed a bill to cap the prices of insulin and renewed a bill to continue funding for research and development. My involvement in JDRF Children’s Congress, public speaking roles, and mentoring newly diagnosed diabetics has led me to realize that I can significantly impact others. Another way I was taught to be curious is through travel. As a child, I always wanted to find a job that paid me to travel all around the world. Because much of my mom’s family lives in Germany, I have had the opportunity to take trips with my parents to visit them and experience their culture. My love of traveling came from taking these trips and piqued my curiosity about other cultures, so I embrace any opportunity to learn something new about other people and their cultures. As a business major, I hope to achieve this goal of learning more about the world around me and broaden my knowledge on the subjects and their application in the world of business. With these stepping stones that formed my eagerness to make a difference, I believe that a business degree will set me up for success and give me the strategies and tools to help me accomplish my goals of applying my ideas and experiences on a national scale. So, in its own way, I think my career path is similar to what I wanted to do as a child. I think that if I take on a business degree with a marketing concentration I could create a base for my future. With my marketing spin and experience in advocacy, I could work to achieve my goals and use my creativity to push the boundaries in the world outside my own realm.

Every time I visit Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta to donate my original paintings, the diabetes educators rave about the joyful and sincere reactions of the newly diagnosed type one diabetic children who have received one of my “BRAVE” canvases. In my free time, I create unique paintings ranging from beach scenes to stars to chevron or checkered patterns. I am definitely not an artist, but I know my work makes a huge impact on people in the hospital, so I have continued to practice and create new canvases. I attempt to design each canvas differently, but one aspect remains the same: the word brave. Every single painting has “brave” featured somehow, whether in big bold letters, cursive, or incorporated in the design. The word brave has significant meaning in my life because of all of the family members, doctors, and friends who have encouraged me and reminded me that I am brave over the ten years I have lived with diabetes. I want to pass along that message to others because of the impact it made on me. I make these canvases as a reminder to be brave no matter how difficult life seems. A simple reminder to be brave may be exactly what someone needs to move past a frustrating day. I know it helps me. Type one diabetes has been constantly on my mind for almost ten years now. Whether I eat a snack, take a test, play a tennis match, or sleep over at a friend’s house, diabetes plays a role. Something as simple as eating a slice of pizza turns into a big deal. How many carbs are in the slice, and if I can’t find the nutrition facts, how much should I estimate? Then, how much insulin should I give based on the carbs and my current blood sugar? And, how long should I wait to take another dose so my blood sugar does not rise from the fat later? Or, should I cut back on the dose because I have an important project later or a practice where I can’t go low? I still have as many questions as I did the day I was diagnosed, but they have evolved over time. While I may never meet everyone that has received one of my canvases, it is comforting and encouraging to know that there is a community out there that asks the same questions I do and understands each other. There are people just like me who have the same constant questions and need a reminder to be brave, so I push myself to make time to paint more canvases for those scared little kids who have no idea what their life will look like after their new diagnosis. As a terrified little seven year old girl at the time of my diagnosis, I was able to talk to a kind teenage girl with diabetes who made me feel less alone. So I made it my mission to be that kind and brave person for as many people as I could. Brave canvases are my path to continue to make a positive impact and difference in the world. It is my own way of helping others and hopefully serves as a reminder that everything is and will be ok. I plan to continue to meet with diabetics and build a stronger community and make a positive impact on the world.

Every time I visit Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta to donate my original paintings, the diabetes educators rave about the joyful and sincere reactions of the newly diagnosed type one diabetic children who have received one of my “BRAVE” canvases. In my free time, I create unique paintings ranging from beach scenes to stars to chevron or checkered patterns. I am definitely not an artist, but I know my work makes an impact on people in the hospital, so I have continued to practice and create new canvases. I attempt to design each canvas differently, but one aspect remains the same: the word brave. Every single painting has “brave” featured somehow, whether in big bold letters, cursive, or incorporated in the design. The word brave has significant meaning in my life because of all of the family members, doctors, and friends who have encouraged me and reminded me that I am brave over the ten years I have lived with diabetes. I want to pass along that message to others because of the impact it made on me. I make these canvases as a reminder to be brave no matter how difficult life seems. A simple reminder to be brave may be exactly what someone needs to move past a frustrating day. I know it helps me. Type one diabetes has been constantly on my mind for almost ten years now. Whether I eat a snack, take a test, play a tennis match, or sleep over at a friend’s house, diabetes plays a role. Something as simple as eating a slice of pizza turns into a big deal. How many carbs are in the slice, and if I can’t find the nutrition facts, how much should I estimate? Then, how much insulin should I give based on the carbs and my current blood sugar? And, how long should I wait to take another dose so my blood sugar does not rise from the fat later? Or, should I cut back on the dose because I have an important project later or a practice where I can’t go low? I still have as many questions as I did the day I was diagnosed, but they have evolved over time. While I may never meet everyone that has received one of my canvases, it is comforting and encouraging to know that there is a community out there that asks the same questions I do and understands each other. There are people just like me who have the same constant questions and need a reminder to be brave, so I push myself to make time to paint more canvases for those scared little kids who have no idea what their life will look like after their new diagnosis. As a terrified little seven year old girl at the time of my diagnosis, I was able to talk to a kind teenage girl with diabetes who made me feel less alone. So I made it my mission to be that kind and brave person for as many people as I could. In my opinion, the word fierce stems off of the word brave, which I have embraced throughout my life with diabetes. While still being kind and welcoming with everyone I meet, I believe that I also have to be fierce with diabetes. I am determined to not let diabetes hinder any activities I take on, so I am pushed to be fierce, both physically and emotionally. The characteristics of being fierce and kind have definitely gone hand in hand with my diabetes journey and will continue to inspire me in the future.

Every time I visit Children’s HealthCare of Atlanta to donate my original paintings, the diabetes educators rave about the joyful and sincere reactions of the newly diagnosed type one diabetic children who have received one of my “BRAVE” canvases. In my free time, I create unique paintings ranging from beach scenes to stars to chevron or checkered patterns. I am definitely not an artist, but I know my work makes an impact on people in the hospital, so I have continued to practice and create new canvases. I attempt to design each canvas differently, but one aspect remains the same: the word brave. Every single painting has “brave” featured somehow, whether in big bold letters, cursive, or incorporated in the design. The word brave has significant meaning in my life because of all of the family members, doctors, and friends who have encouraged me and reminded me that I am brave over the ten years I have lived with diabetes. I want to pass along that message to others because of the impact it made on me. I make these canvases as a reminder to be brave no matter how difficult life seems. A simple reminder to be brave may be exactly what someone needs to move past a frustrating day. I know it helps me. Type one diabetes has been constantly on my mind for almost ten years now. My blood sugar changes by the minute, so I never get a break. Whether I eat a snack, take a test, play a tennis match, or sleep over at a friend’s house, diabetes plays a role. Something as simple as eating a slice of pizza turns into a big deal. How many carbs are in the slice, and if I can’t find the nutrition facts, how much should I estimate? Then, how much insulin should I give based on the carbs and my current blood sugar? And, how long should I wait to take another dose so my blood sugar does not rise from the fat later? Or, should I cut back on the dose because I have an important project later or a practice where I can’t go low? I still have as many questions as I did the day I was diagnosed, but they have evolved over time. While I may never meet everyone that has received one of my canvases, it is comforting and encouraging to know that there is a community out there that asks the same questions I do and understands each other. There are people just like me who have the same constant questions and need a reminder to be brave, so I push myself to make time to paint more canvases for those scared little kids who have no idea what their life will look like after their new diagnosis. As a terrified little seven year old girl at the time of my diagnosis, I was able to talk to a teenage girl with diabetes who made me feel less alone. So I made it my mission to be that person for as many people as I could. I know that all the people I have met throughout my life with diabetes have shaped who I am today. These people and experiences will impact my future as I continue to make brave canvases and meet new people because I believe that everyone you meet has an impact on your life. Even with all the ups and downs of daily diabetes life, I am constantly reminded by my diabetes community that everything will be ok as long as I am brave!