Meet Roe: Proving Type 1 Diabetes Can’t Stop a Division I Dream

October 17, 2016, marked the beginning of a challenge that has forever shaped who I am. I was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes at nearly 8 years old. I have always been told I was quite mature for my age with admirable dedication. Balancing an autoimmune disease with the everyday struggles of school, sports, and a social life taught me that perseverance was no longer a choice, but a necessity.

Despite this obstacle, my parents managed to give me the most. There was never a time when we as a family weren’t running off to some sporting event or heading to the beach together because the surf was good. Life was chaotic yet consistent, revolving around sports.

It has been nine years since my diagnosis—nine years of change that resulted in uncertainty and inconsistency—but I refuse to let my diagnosis define me. I began playing volleyball in the eighth grade while continuing to participate in soccer, ski racing, and lacrosse. Volleyball soon became a grounding place where any worry would dissolve instantly as I stepped onto the court. Type 1 diabetes never demanded I quit what I loved. I was able to remain active, the one thing that keeps me sane.

In my sophomore year, I made the varsity volleyball team and later became a starter. The bar was set, and it was set high. I was always striving for a high rate of activity, the type that has my heart rate constantly bouncing around. Behind the expectations of an underclassman starter on varsity, I had to prove to everyone that diabetes wasn't a defining label on my back. I was not willing to be beaten. The sport built my confidence within myself, teaching me that despite the challenges, hard work and dedication pay off every time.

I am committed to Stonehill College to play Division I volleyball, with the hope of pursuing a degree within the business pathway, where I plan to develop the life skills necessary to become a successful leader. As a Division I student athlete, I will continue to push myself to embrace the change and discipline that I have been taught over the years.

As I go into this next chapter of my life, I hope to inspire other young athletes living with type 1 diabetes, showing them that a diagnosis does not define them. Living with type 1 diabetes hasn't stopped me from chasing my dreams, but it has encouraged me to chase them harder.