Ever since I was in elementary school I struggled with testing anxiety. In seventh grade, my anxiety began to manifest in physical ways: sweating, heart palpitations, dizziness, and even vomiting. I begged my mom for help. My love for learning had diminished due to my intense anxiety and I knew I could not go on like this.

When my mom asked my school for a 504 plan, I was denied. My testing anxiety was considered “not problematic enough” because my grades were okay. I felt crushed by the idea that someone who did not even know me could deny me support.

I switched schools the following year and got the accommodations I needed, but I knew I could not stop there. Thousands of other kids were experiencing the same thing I had, and I needed to do something about it.

I am a firm believer that all kids deserve accessibility in education. No child should have their love of learning diminished because of their disabilities.

In the future, I plan to use my college education to make a difference in students’ lives. I am unsure if that will be on a policy-making scale or a smaller, individual scale, but I am leaving the door open for whatever opportunities call to me.