When I was applying to graduate school, I asked a few professors for recommendation letters. So they could learn more about me as a person (since they only knew me from classes), I sent them this personal information.

I wrote this about 10 years ago, and I still agree with my statements about diabetes today.

Some Things About Me

When I was eleven years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. This taught me a lot of responsibility at a young age. No matter what I do or where I go, I always have to be prepared for the worst. For this reason, I have to incorporate a lot of “thinking ahead” and problem solving into my daily routine. I believe this has made me a very proactive and alert person. Furthermore, it has taught me to always be positive and to be grateful for every opportunity I have in life. Although I do not enjoy having diabetes, it has definitely had a positive impact on my life.

Another unique quality about me is that I spent a year and a half as a garbage man during community college. There is no better motivation in life than doing something you absolutely hate. Working five days a week, rain or shine, from ~4-11pm, taught me incredible work ethic. Now, I am extremely grateful to be a full time student/graduate research assistant. I take pride in working as hard as I possibly can to be the best student/researcher I can be. I am proud to say that I received straight A’s during my time in the FSU undergraduate meteorology program and plan to continue this track in graduate school. I look forward to my classes and to work every day, and know how lucky I really am to be doing something I love.

Lastly, during my senior year, I served as the vice-president of the North Florida Chapter of the American Meteorological Society. I was honored to be chosen by my peers for such a distinct position. I was able to meet some great people and develop friendships with my fellow classmates. This position also helped me develop presentation and public speaking skills. I have always been nervous when it comes to public speaking, and I wanted this job to help me overcome this fear. Although I will always be a little nervous, this position has definitely made me more comfortable in front of a crowd and it will undoubtedly help in future presentations as I continue my career in science.