From Patient to Future Practitioner: How a Scholarship is Fueling My Dream to Help Others

Receiving the Take a Pain Check STEM Without Limits Scholarship has reminded me of just how far I’ve come, not just as a student or athlete, but as someone who turned their health challenges into purpose. This support hasn’t just helped me financially; it reminded me that my journey matters and pushed me even more toward a career in healthcare where I can be the kind of support to others that I once needed. 

That reminder took me back to where it all started. I used to think that coming home from practice barely able to move, being completely exhausted after school, or waking up with unexplained pain was normal. At first, I thought it was normal, but as things got worse, even simple tasks became a struggle. 

That's when I knew something wasn’t right. 

I was later diagnosed with Psoriatic Arthritis first at the age of 9, then later diagnosed with Mast Cell Activation Disorder and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome. The diagnosis process was long, confusing and frustrating. But getting those answers helped me finally understand what was happening to my body. There were many ups and downs, and times when I felt stuck and unheard. However, slowly I started learning how to manage my health in a way that worked for me.

It took time, a lot of it, but eventually, my healthcare team got me to a point where I could move my body like an athlete again. 

Currently, as a Kinesiology student at the University of Alberta and a USPORT athlete with the Pandas basketball team, health and sport have always been a huge part of my life. But living with chronic illness taught me how powerful it is to have a supportive team of healthcare workers. 

It made me start thinking: What if I could be that support for someone else one day?

This is exactly why I want to become a physiotherapist, athletic therapist, or occupational therapist. These careers blend all different aspects of my life; my kinesiology degree, my experience as an athlete and my journey with chronic illness. I want to work with people, especially youth, who are dealing with pain, injuries, or disabilities and might not always feel understood. I want to be someone in their journey who truly understands, not just from a clinical perspective, but from a real-life experience. I know how hard it is when your body doesn’t allow you to do what you love. 

That’s why receiving the Take a Pain Check STEM Without Limits Scholarship has been such a meaningful moment for me. This isn't just a scholarship, it's something that reminded me that my story matters. It made me feel seen not only for what I’ve overcome but how I'm using those experiences to turn them into something bigger– something I want to carry into my future.

I wish I had heard about The Take a Pain Check Foundation earlier on in my journey as they have created a space where youth with rheumatic disease can feel seen and supported. Throughout my youth, I had always felt like I was the only kid who struggled with Arthritis and never heard of other kids/youth going through similar challenges. The way this foundation creates a space of support for youth is exactly how I hope my future patients will feel, with the sense of being understood, believed and never alone.   

This kind of support from the foundation keeps me going, it reminds me why I am so passionate about helping others. I'm very fortunate and honoured to have received the STEM Without Limits Scholarship. I'm thankful to TAPC, not just for the financial help, but for believing in me and the impact I hope to make one day. I still have a lot ahead of me, but I know everything I have been through will make me a better healthcare professional in helping others during some of their hardest times.