On April 16, 2021, I went to my PCP (primary care physician), where I was being seen for a completely different reason than the diagnosis I was given during my visit. I then later was admitted into Children's Hospital where I was officially diagnosed and where I went through a series of "Diabetes 101" lessons being taught about my condition. Being diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes was a huge shock to myself and my family members there with me. I remember crying and not really understanding what that diagnosis would mean for me. I honestly remember feeling like my world was falling apart. The entire time I was being informed about my condition I was being told uplifting things such as, "You'll get through this," but honestly at the time I didn't really feel like that was true. Though now, I can see it was. I think being diagnosed with a chronic illness really puts your life into perspective and makes you question just about anything honestly. I know it personally made me question a lot of things. ("Why me?" "Why just now am I finding out about this?" "What will this mean for me?") But, honestly I can say that being diagnosed has made me understand a ton of things about myself and while I wish this illness never existed in the first place, being diagnosed saved me in a lot of ways. After my hospital experience I got to go home, to a somewhat "normal" life. Well, what became my new normal, I suppose. I still went to school and ate my usual food and spent time with friends and family, but there was that lingering "you have a chronic illness" at the back of my head for so long I'm not even sure it's gone even now. I think after something in your life changes so drastically you'll always kind of think about it even if in the future it becomes so normal to you that you forget what your old normal used to be. I feel like I know myself a lot better now and I'm glad to now know the ways to take care of myself better. I truly hope anyone with Type 1 Diabetes (or any chronic illness) knows they're never alone in the struggles they may face. I, along with others, understand you, care for you, and wish you the best on your journey with chronic illness!