It’s July 2014. My eyes are still heavy and hard to open from the anesthesia. As I slowly wake up and wait to hear the news, how little did I know that this news would change my life completely, for better and for worse.
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, when I was nearly 14 years old. At the time, I didn’t quite understand what Crohn’s Disease even was, or how it would affect me on a day to day basis. Of course, I first saw this diagnosis as an impediment that would hold me back in everything I do, but I soon realized quite the contrary. I had an amazing support system of friends and family telling me I would get through this hard time, and to always think positively. I used that advice to battle my disease, come out on top, and increase my depth as an individual. I quickly learned to accept my illness as a part of me, and to only use it as a reason to work harder in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. I met with teachers to learn the material I had missed, talked to the athletic director about being a cheerleader, …show more content…
I wanted to learn about my illness, how it was affecting my body, and how the medications I was taking worked. I have been fascinated by science since I was in middle school and have always dreamed about going to an exceptional college with an outstanding science program to pursue my interest in the science and medical fields. Moreover, I am specifically interested in biology and genetics and hope to obtain my doctorate in that field. My goal is to advance the knowledge of disease progression, offer advice to patients about diagnosis and treatment, as well as help predict whether future generations are at risk of acquiring a disease. Having Crohn’s Disease has furthered my interest in disease prevention would give me a sense of fulfillment by helping those individuals stricken with a chronic
I was diagnosed with Crohn’s Disease, a chronic inflammatory disease of the intestines, when I was nearly 14 years old. At the time, I didn’t quite understand what Crohn’s Disease even was, or how it would affect me on a day to day basis. Of course, I first saw this diagnosis as an impediment that would hold me back in everything I do, but I soon realized quite the contrary. I had an amazing support system of friends and family telling me I would get through this hard time, and to always think positively. I used that advice to battle my disease, come out on top, and increase my depth as an individual. I quickly learned to accept my illness as a part of me, and to only use it as a reason to work harder in school, sports, and extracurricular activities. I met with teachers to learn the material I had missed, talked to the athletic director about being a cheerleader, …show more content…
I wanted to learn about my illness, how it was affecting my body, and how the medications I was taking worked. I have been fascinated by science since I was in middle school and have always dreamed about going to an exceptional college with an outstanding science program to pursue my interest in the science and medical fields. Moreover, I am specifically interested in biology and genetics and hope to obtain my doctorate in that field. My goal is to advance the knowledge of disease progression, offer advice to patients about diagnosis and treatment, as well as help predict whether future generations are at risk of acquiring a disease. Having Crohn’s Disease has furthered my interest in disease prevention would give me a sense of fulfillment by helping those individuals stricken with a chronic