In the summer of 2015, I had two brain mapping surgeries, and I had a part of my brain removed, a malformation that was causing my seizures. And since then, I’ve been seizure-free for four years now.

When I was in middle school, I wasn’t working out, I wasn’t exercising, and I didn’t feel confident in myself along with having epilepsy. I began going to a gym and working out with a personal trainer, and it immediately, I fell in love with lifting weights, working out, and it brought me so much more confidence and strength and made me feel like I really could do anything. Even when there were times I would have seizures in the gym and I would fall, I would get right back up and continue working out. And after working out and doing weights for about four years now, I realized that I wanted that to be a part of my career and future in helping others, and to become more knowledgeable about the human body, health, and how that plays such a huge role in our quality of life.

As a counselor, it was very moving just to see all the campers not have to worry about the day-to-day struggles with epilepsy and to see the smiles on their face, having such a wonderful time, getting to swim without having to worry about having a seizure, and meeting new campers that also have epilepsy. And everyone just came together, had an amazing time, and I can’t wait to continue to be a counselor and give back to the community when the foundation has always been there for me.