Growing with Diabetes by Aiden

Growing with Diabetes by Aiden - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

When I was 4 I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Many people think that type 1 diabetes defines me, but it does not. Diabetes is something that has provided me with opportunities to find myself and what I want to do with my life. To me, it is about how you can take something life-altering and turn it into a positive for yourself as well as others. The pressure of determining what you want to study in college can be overwhelming. Fortunately, I have been able to have tremendous experiences with a not-for-profit organization that spreads awareness about diabetes called Breakthrough T1D. This began my freshman year and sparked an interest in communications, public relations, advocacy and advertising.
The experiences that I gained through Breakthrough T1D, including being a Youth Advocacy Leader, a regional Youth Ambassador, and a member of the 2025 Children’s Congress helped me fuel my passion of helping others but they’ve also assisted me with what I would do in my future career. As a Youth Advocacy Leader, I have used social media and speaking engagements to enlighten outsiders to the challenges of having diabetes. In my role as a Youth Ambassador, I’ve also worked at a variety of events. One experience that was very special to me was when I organized my own paint and sip fundraiser event, which ran for two years and raised $2,000. While organizing the paint and sip, I used social media and learned how to communicate with businesses and donors to run a successful fundraiser.
What I am most proud of was attending Children's Congress 2025, in Washington D.C. where I, 1 of 170 delegates selected out of over one thousand applicants. I was selected by Breakthrough T1D to represent the organization to speak with federal lawmakers to advocate for the funding of Type 1 Diabetes research. Advocating for other diabetics has always been meaningful to me. I am lucky enough to have easy access to my diabetic supplies, but others are not so lucky. Discussing these issues with lawmakers was an incredible opportunity. After returning from the Children's Congress, I realized how much power I have to make a difference. I have taken my diabetes, something that I was once scared of, and turned it into a way for me to help people throughout the country.
My experiences have driven me to explore how further formalized communication education will help me continue to make a difference in the world. I believe that my strong passions in communications and community service make me an excellent candidate for the Varsity Tutors Essay Scholarship.