It's that time of year again. High school seniors are hearing back from the universities they applied to and are making their decisions on what school they will be attending in the fall. While this is process is scary enough as it is, it can be even scarier for the high school senior who has diabetes. And I know all about it...because I was one.
My initial thought when I was a senior was wow, this is going to be hard. I'll be away from home, my parents won't be able to look after me like they do now...what if something happens? It didn't help that I had decided to attend a university at the opposite end of the state. It was terrifying. I'd never been away from home for more than three or four weeks at a time (thanks to spending the summer at Governor's School the summer before). College was going to be insane.
But I'm not trying to scare anyone with this. These are merely my own reflections on being a senior and deciding where I would go to school. I know how difficult this time can be, but it's also one of the most exciting times in any young person's life.
First things first: Yes, diabetes can be a pain in the butt. No, it shouldn't have to affect your decisions on where you go to college or how you live your life. True, it can be scary, and you need to make choices on what's best for you, but in reality a person with diabetes can do anything they want as long as they manage their health and are on top of their game!
Don't be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! I was never too keen on doing very physically demanding things when I was in high school, simply because I was worried about my blood sugar dropping and something happening to me. But I learned to work with it, and now I'm in my school's marching band (which is EXTREMELY demanding!) and I'm doing other activities like hiking.
One of the first things I did when I came to Western was tell everybody I met about having diabetes (better safe than sorry, right?). I wanted to cover my bases with everyone and make sure that they knew what was happening if I ever seemed spacey or if I had to leave a rehearsal to go get food. (Yes, I like to eat. No, I don't just leave classes or rehearsals for food.)
School has been one of the greatest things to happen to me. I've learned so much about how to manage my body and my symptoms, and it doesn't have to be a scary thing. My friends, professors, and the university itself are quick to help me if I ever have a situation arise! I also work closely with the Disability Services office to get the accommodations I need.
No, while diabetes may not be a disability, I still go through the Office of Disability Services to make sure I am well covered.
Like I stated, diabetes can definitely be a pain, but there's so many options to help you readjust to life in college and to help you thrive; you just have to explore them all and find what works best for you.
