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2014

Amanda L. Averill is from Rexford, NY and will be attending Elms College to pursue a degree in Communication Science and disorders. Amanda was diagnosed with Crohns disease at the age of 13. "...I have learned to not be embarrassed of who you are, and to embrace everything; your disease, and what makes you a unique individual. One does not have control over your own body, but, one does have control over something much more important-the mind. One should question everything, and not only rely on authority for formulating opinions, but to think for oneself, and ask questions."

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Troy E. Longman II is from Avoca, MI and will be attending Ferris State College to pursue a degree in Criminal Justice. Troy is one of the 300 individuals with an extremely rare bleeding disorder called Dysfibinogenemis. "....Everyone has set a goal in life at some point in time but what seperates me from everyone else is my inspiration and determination to complete that goal. The reason why I am so determined to achieve all my goals in life is because of my father who lost his job and decided he would go back to school and earn his bachlor's degree."

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Daniel A. Nicoletta is from Niskayuna, NY and will be attending Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute to pursue a degree in Chemical Engineering. At Eight months old, Daniel had a three month stay in hospital and was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes.  "....Dealing with diabetis has showed me that there isn't anything I can't do. Diabetes has taught me how to deal with hardship by setting my mind to my goal, pulling out the stop, and launching myself into the task, not stopping until it is complete. Diabetes has shown me a lot about what I can and cannot do, it has created in me a drive and determination to do better and improve that would be hard to derive from anywhere else."

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McKinley B Shunn is from Carrollton, GA and will be attending the University of West Georgia to pursue and Art Degree. McKinley experiences chest pain, shorness of breath, dizziness, syncope and exhaustion all from Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy. "....I am always moving forward and making it over obstacles. Although I may have to start my school day later than my peers or miss school when I am not feeling well, I always give 110%. I have had some major obstacles to deal with both physically and emotionally while in school. But for me these major health events are like hurdles, I jump over each one, land gracefully, and keep moving toward my goal."

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Nicole M. Tiffan is from Columbus, OH and will be attending Cedarville University to pursue a Psycology degree. Nicole has several chronic  disorders which combined are called Andersen-Tawil-Syndrome. The major consequences are cardiac abnormalities, skeletal muscal weakness with periodic paralysis and groth retardation.  "....Being normal is a luxury that most take for advantage.  Some people, such as I, never get to experience this luxury.  However I must keep moving forward because stopping is not an option. I must continue the quest of a different normalcy, however unreachable it is.  I must do this until I am considered normal, for me."

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Kathryn C. Waverka is from Gilbertsville, PA and will be attending Marywood University to pursue a degree as a Physician's Assistant.  Katiee has Postural Orthostatic Tachycarddia Syndorme, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome and Reflex Neuro Vascular Dytrophy. "....These illnesses taught me life is too valuable to take it for granted.  No matter how many time I was in the hospital or unable to sit upright, or even eat simple foods without assistance from a tube, I held on.  Npt only do I live each day and every moment like it is my last; but I value what each day has to bring. As hard as living with these illnesses is, I am thankful for it."

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