Happy Holidays and Thank You!

Happy holidays everyone!! This is my last blog as my role as the American Diabetes Association Illinois Youth Ambassador is coming to an end. I just wanted to say how thankful I was for this opportunity and to help other kids with diabetes. I want to encourage other kids out there to help out around their community and help other kids with diabetes because you never know whose life you are really going to touch or be an inspiration for. Remember you're not alone there is always someone who is going through the same situation. I cannot wait to see who the 2016 youth ambassador will be to continue being an inspiration to all!

I had a lot of fun helping out this year. Some of the activities I did was going to the Family Link Mini Golf Day to golf with kids while their parents were able to connect, I got to speak at the diabetes Expo, rode in the Tour de Cure, walked in Step Out: Walk to Stop Diabetes, got to go to a race car speedway and cheer on Ryan Reed in his Stop Diabetes race car, and going to diabetes camps (my fav!) as both a camper and meeting with kids at the day camps! I had a lot of fun doing all of these.

I'm glad I had this opportunity so I could help other kids out. I don't think diabetes is a burden, in a way it's more of something to learn from. It taught me to never give up and that I am still "normal". I can still do everything like I used to. Diabetes for me hasn't slowed down anything that I do. It pushed me to work harder and show people that I am still the same person.

We had a diabetes awareness day at our school recently where everyone wore blue. We had blue face paint and since my number for all of my sports is #31, many of my classmates wrote “31” on their face with paint. Even the state representative came to our school and saw what we were doing. It was quite inspirational!

Having diabetes made me want to work even harder to accomplish the goals I want, even though it might be a little more tougher down the road. I'm so happy I got this experience and let everyone know that diabetes can't and won't stop you. You are still normal and will accomplish everything you want to. Just keep a smile on your face and never give up. Thank you for this amazing opportunity!