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Despite battling chronic illness, I managed to stumble through six years of college. Obtaining my master’s degree in mental health and school counseling was a herculean feat. But I didn’t power through it on my own: I believe in my own product and have had therapy on and off…

Yesterday was Monday and I didn’t want it to be. The start of the week is often tough, but my aversion is misplaced. Mondays now aren’t that dissimilar from any other day, considering the world has all but shut down while sheltered in place. Mondays used to be busy…

I am gravely inflexible. This might seem shocking to those who know me, since I write openly about being a professional dancer. A lot of my career depends on how willingly I stretch, and how openly I hide imperfections in plain sight. I am stuck at home these…

In spring 2015 I began journeying toward a challenge I hadn’t known would come to fruition so quickly: lung transplantation. Concerned for my life, my care team had labeled my cystic fibrosis “unmanageable.” Blinded by my inability to admit when I was sick, I couldn’t realize that truth. Wanting…

My life feels like a walking disclaimer lately. It’s as though everything I do or say or write should come with the headline proclaiming “I have a pre-existing condition.” These words are everywhere; I can’t seem to escape the phrase. It almost feels like a justification, doesn’t it? As…

I’ve been bored during my six weeks of isolation. But sometimes boring is a synonym for peaceful. Yes, it’s been a peaceful time of silence and introspection. For example, in all my sitting around, I realized something really cool: I’m an amazing liar! I’m so good at it that sometimes…

I am drained. My current situation astonishes me. The United States healthcare system must change. Over the past month, I’ve dealt with some severe and unusual health insurance issues. Before I continue, I want to make it clear that this is not an attack on our healthcare workers or any…

As you may have noticed, the world is having a bit of a moment right now. I started self-isolating as soon as the first case of the new coronavirus appeared in my county, which means I’ve been inside for a long, long time. It turns out that it’s…

I am scared … but not for the reasons you’d think. I am worried about something I’m ashamed to admit: what happens when things go back to the way they were before. Not the eventual end to an endemic pandemic, of course, but the pace of how we used…

Self-isolation has caused an unexpected sort of peace to my daily life. Before you call me crazy, hear me out. I am usually constantly busy. I work several jobs, partake in countless hobbies, and fill silence with an active social life. I think that is the case for many young…