To Diabetes,

I was three when you became part of my life. Too young to understand how much would change. Seventeen years later, I'm still learning how to live with you, but I've also grown into someone that little girl had no idea she could become.

You've been there through childhood, school, softball, college, and now my journey to becoming a teacher. Behind so many pictures of me smiling, there's a part of my day that the camera doesn't capture. The planning. The checking. The decisions. The moments when I'm tired but still have to take care of myself.

There are days when I wish I could put that responsibility down for a little while. Days when I'm frustrated because I'm trying so hard and things still aren't going the way I hoped. I can love my life and still admit that living with you is hard.

But you have never stopped me. You have never defined me. You have never limited my dreams.

That little girl grew up to become a Division 1 softball player. Now, she's working toward becoming a teacher. And I wish I could sit beside her for a moment and tell her about the life ahead of her. About the fields she'll play on, the friendships she'll make, and the classroom she'll someday call her own. I wish I could tell her that there will be difficult days, but there will also be so many days worth looking forward to.

I'd tell her about the people who will help her get there. My family has carried their own worries while helping me carry mine. To the people who have listened, checked in, learned, and stood beside me, thank you. Even when you couldn't change what I was going through, having you there mattered.

And to the diabetes community, thank you for giving me a place where I feel understood. Being a Dexcom U athlete has given me opportunities to share my story and hear others. It means so much to connect with someone and realize I don't have to explain why a seemingly ordinary day can take so much effort.

Diabetes, you've made me stronger, but you've also made me more compassionate. You've taught me to look a little closer, listen a little longer, and remember that I may only be seeing a small part of what someone is going through.

Someday, when a child sits in my classroom feeling different or overwhelmed, I hope I can be someone who helps them feel understood. I hope I can help them see their possibilities, especially when they're having trouble seeing those possibilities themselves. My experience with you will be part of the care I bring to that classroom.

So, after everything, thank you, diabetes, for helping make me who I am today. Thank you for teaching me patience, courage, and how to speak up for myself. For teaching me that accepting help doesn't take away from what I've accomplished. For helping me recognize the quiet victories that deserve to be celebrated, too.

I'm proud of the little girl who began this journey before she could understand it. I'm proud of the person I am today, still learning, still trying, and still dreaming. Seventeen years ago, my family and I had so much ahead of us that we couldn't yet imagine. Today, I get to look at the life I've built and feel grateful. I get to look toward graduation, my future classroom, and the people I'll meet with hope.

And if I could tell that little girl one thing, it would be this: There is so much beautiful life ahead of us. I'm living it now. ♥

Love, Kylie ♥