"Road to somewhere" seems to be my tag line for this whole journey. This so called journey is going to be explained below in an essay that I submitted for a college essay, which explains the unique setup and formality. Hope you enjoy ;) P.S. this picture doesn't even include stuff I can eat lol, I really need to start taking pictures of food I make.
1 cup of chopped bacon, 1 sweet potato diced, and half an onion, are all thrown into the pan. Filling the kitchen with the smell of sizzling bacon. It’s 6:35 a.m., my uniform shirt is buttoned up to the collar, my skirt hangs a few inches above my knees, as I stand over the stove, stirring the onions so they don’t burn. Knowing that in another hour I’ll be on my way to first period. Why am I making a sweet potato hash instead of a quick bowl of cereal like most high schoolers? Because gluten and dairy are my body’s enemies. For years now I have dealt with digestive issues. I love food, like I’m such a foodie. My favorite parts of vacations are exploring new restaurants and tasting new foods that Chicago doesn’t offer. If asked the generic question of what food could you eat for the rest of your life, I would absolutely answer with potatoes. No matter how they are served: mashed, twice baked, or fried, I never tire of them. Therefore, when I found a route to help aid my digestion through functional medicine, it was very difficult when I was told that one of the foods I was going to have to remove from my diet was yellow potatoes. However, it has led me to be more creative in the kitchen, to open the fridge and explore what I can throw into a hash or a stir-fry. I knew that removing dairy, gluten, and sugar from my diet was going to be an adjustment. However, within a few days I understood what my options for eating were, and I accepted that if I wanted to feel better, I had to follow my new diet. My doctor told me that it was going to take a lot of work so that we could treat the cause, and not just the symptoms. I would not simply cover up my problems with a band-aid, instead I ripped off the band-aid, exposing the wound, in order to properly treat it. This whole journey has helped me to discover a new found self-confidence and independence. I was able to shift my mind from constantly dwelling on how terrible I felt, to how much progress I had made. Rather than worrying about my digestion, I can now get through my school days focused and attentive. I have taken responsibility and I wake up earlier to make my breakfast before school and to create time to take all of my vitamins. I use my hour lunch break to cook taco meat and prepare lettuce wraps. I eat dinner at home before joining my friends at a restaurant. In the midst of an anxious spiral one day, I came to the realization that I am interested in psychology and why/how the patterns of my mind function compared to my neighbors. I have also realized that while I love the independence I have gained, I need to be able to ask for help and use the support system that I have, as my family and friends are the best people to be walking life with. Shortly after switching my diet, I went on a school retreat for three days. Yes, I had to pack my own food and snacks, but I was not going to let that stop me from attending the retreat. The biggest take away from the retreat for me was realizing that every person carries their own cross and we all have to support each other. It was so eye opening to me to shift my focus from feeling sorry for myself, to being blessed that I have this community around me that is willing to support me, and that I will support through their battles too. Now, it’s time for me to go join that community at school, but I hope to see you soon!
(Yes the last line is kinda cheesy, but it worked for the prompt I needed it for lol)
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