To Diabetes,

I was only 14 when you came into my life. It was the summer before my freshman year of high school, and I remember sitting there crying, scared of what my future might look like. The first thing I asked my doctor was, "Will I still be able to play basketball?"

Basketball was my dream. And in that moment, I was terrified you were going to take it away from me.

I didn't know what life with you would look like. I didn't know how much patience and grace I would need to give myself. I definitely didn't know how many challenges would come with managing you every single day.

You don't take days off. You're there during practices, games, classes, and moments when I just want to be present with my friends and family. There are days when the mental load feels heavier than anyone around me can see. Days when I'm frustrated, overwhelmed, or just wish I didn't have to think about you.

But I've learned that it's okay to have those days. I don't have to have everything figured out, and I don't have to be strong every second.

Because of you, I've learned to celebrate the little wins. Getting through a tough day. Understanding my body a little better. Feeling more confident in how I manage you. Being able to step onto the court and focus on the game I love.

And when I look at where I am today, playing basketball at the University of Notre Dame, I think about that scared 14-year-old girl who didn't know if she'd ever get to keep chasing her dream. I wish I could go back and tell her that she will.

Through it all, my faith has been my foundation. It has carried me through moments when I didn't know if I had the strength to keep going. I've also been blessed with family, friends, and coaches who continue to show up for me, encourage me, and remind me that I don't have to carry everything on my own. And through this journey, I've found a community of people who understand what living with diabetes really means. People whose stories remind me that none of us are alone in this.

So, diabetes, here's what I want you to know: you have challenged me, but you have also shown me how resilient I can be. You've reminded me to appreciate the little victories and never take the people in my corner for granted.

But you don't get to decide how big I dream, or get to define my worth, my potential, or my future.

I'm going to keep chasing, giving everything I have, and believing in what's possible.

And if there's one thing I hope my story shows someone else living with diabetes, it's that you can have hard days and still have big dreams. You can ask for help and still be strong. You can face challenges and still accomplish things you once thought were impossible.

Diabetes, you're part of my story. But you're not the author of it.

Jenica