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BC Epilepsy Society Scholarship Winners Announced
July 11, 2011 10:15 AMSend to a Friend
The BC Epilepsy Society is proud to announce that we have rewarded eight $1000 scholarships to people with epilepsy living throughout the province.
Our scholarship program is designed to assist people with epilepsy access post-secondary education and employment training. This will help improve the quality of life for people with epilepsy and their families.
The 2011 scholarship winners ranged in age from 18 to 42, and will be entering or continuing post-secondary studies in a range of fields. This includes environmental science, film, nursing, interior decorating, visual arts, medical research in epilepsy epidemiology, and other arts and science programs.
Here’s what some of the scholarship winners had to say about their experiences living with epilepsy along with their ideas for raising epilepsy awareness:
“I was ten years old when I was first diagnosed with Juvenile Absence Epilepsy. At times my seizure control was excellent and at times it was extremely poor. Sometimes I had side effects from my medication and sometimes I did not. Having epilepsy is difficult. However, I have benefited. Having epilepsy has made me work harder at everything I have done because I never wanted to let epilepsy slow me down or prevent me from doing anything. If anything, it made me want to achieve more than if I didn’t have epilepsy.”
“My goal is to be able to communicate to teachers, students, friends and coworkers that many people in our community have epilepsy and the best way they can help is to continue to support and respect them. It is everyone who lives with epilepsy to be responsible, to be diligent with therapy, be supportive of others with epilepsy and to be part of the effort to raise awareness. Accept them for who they are, not define them for the condition they have.”
“In the future, I will increase epilepsy awareness as a nurse. I have been accepted for September 2011 and can’t wait to get started. As a nurse, I will be surrounded by patients, and staff. I have the personal experience of what it feels like to wake up from a seizure and I can educate staff members of my own experiences and give them a deeper understanding, in contrast to straight out-of-the-textbook information."
“I am not ashamed of my disability. In fact, I do not see it as a disability at all. To me, after years of living with Epilepsy I see it as a challenge and an opportunity. It is a challenge to make me work my hardest and make something of myself to prove that Epilepsy will not hold me back from reaching my full potential.”
“So what can I do to raise awareness? I think the best way would be to start with my own attitude. I need to accept the fact that I have epilepsy. I need to be happy and positive. There may be some limitations to my activities for a while, but it is not the end of the world. If I have a positive attitude, I can show people that living with epilepsy is not only possible but perfectly normal. I can show people that I am a happy, healthy, well adjusted young person. I can work hard at whatever I put my hand to. I can continue volunteering with children to better their lives and give them worthwhile experiences. I can go to school and study to follow my dream, just like anyone else. I can be a useful part of my community and make a difference in the world.”
For more information on the scholarship program from the BC Epilepsy Society, please contact us at 604-875-6704 or at info@bcepilepsy.com
Posted by the BC Epilepsy Society at July 11, 2011 10:15 AM
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