My parents told me that briefly after my diagnosis, I threw a fit. I was screaming and crying and they felt bad for me because they knew I was going through a rough time. However, choking back tears, they put me in time out and disciplined me as if it were any other time before I was Type One Diabetic. This decision impacted my life in a way almost unimaginable, and here’s why: It was as if nothing in my life had changed except for the fact that my pancreas didn’t work. It was not put in my head that I would get special treatment because I had a “disease”. Instead of babying me and trying to protect me from the struggles of Type One Diabetes, my parents taught me to be responsible and learn how to deal with it and the good and the bad that comes along. Diabetes did not affect my childhood one bit. I was fortunate enough to have friends whose parents would check my blood sugar in the night so I could sleep over at their house. They always made me feel welcome and never were put out by this extra responsibility of having me over.  I was sleeping at friends’ houses when I was 7, just as any of my other first grade friends. I never felt any different than them. In the third grade, I was completely independent with my Type One. I went places and took care of it on my own. Now I fly out of state alone to see my grandparents, where I wake up a couple times a night to check my blood sugar. Diabetes does not mean you have to avoid doing things “normal” people do. It just means you have to adapt. Another important thing my parents taught me is to never make excuses. I was diagnosed right before kindergarten, and doctors were already making excuses as to why my grades would be lower than average. Supposedly, leaving class to check my blood sugar at the nurse would hinder my academic potential because I would miss too much class and important information. My parents never let me believe that. I made it through elementary and middle school going to the nurse and still receiving straight A’s. Now, in high school, I don’t go to the nurse to check my blood sugar, I manage it on my own in class. I have been able to handle sports, AP classes, and Type One Diabetes, while still holding a 4.38 GPA. Never let anyone tell you what you can do. I will never let Diabetes affect my ability to succeed. I will forever be grateful to my parents for not holding me back, even if it was scary for them to let me go.