Meet 2023 Diabetes Scholar Maria J
Beyond Type 1 is honored to highlight the 2023 Class of Diabetes Scholars, which make up our future doctors, nurses, policymakers, educators, pilots, athletes and more!
Read this Q+A to get to know more about one of our 24 recipients this year and Maria’s aspirations and hopes for college.
What are your favorite hobbies?
I have always been a very athletic child. I am on five varsity teams at school: soccer, indoor soccer, cross country, track and field and softball. Outside of school, I play in two competitive soccer leagues, U17 and semi-pro 20+ league.
I find that exercise helps me control my sugar by establishing a healthy and balanced routine on my day-to-day basis. Aside from sports, I like to read, go to the beach and be with my friends.
What are you most looking forward to in college?
During these next four years, I am looking forward to meeting new people and getting a grasp of what it’s like to learn from an education that goes beyond the classroom. To have a whole community through professors, lecturers, health entities and nonprofit organizations. I look forward to connecting with other instrumental students who share my passion.
And above all, to keep spreading awareness of my condition and grow my experience by working in hospitals, shadowing doctors and conducting research projects.
What advice do you have for anyone getting ready for college with type 1 diabetes (T1D)?
For other T1Ds getting ready for college, my advice is to use all the resources available, whether visiting your local endocrinologist and nutritionist and/or researching online.
Expand your own knowledge and accept advice from others with a bit more experience. Learn from what worked for them and their mistakes. Also, I encourage them to embrace the ever-changing technology available to manage the condition; it really makes a difference.
We’re all very excited for these bright Scholars, so make sure to learn more about the rest of the class of 2023.
