After finding out I was BRCA1 positive, I struggled for a long time accepting this new reality. I remember being scared of my own body waiting for the scan or doctors visit where they would tell me that I had developed cancer. A year after receiving my BRCA diagnosis, I was having a lot of abdominal pain and decided to get a scan of my ovaries to see what was wrong. The scan showed that in addition to being BRCA positive, I also suffered from PCOS. Polycystic ovarian syndrome is a common hormonal disorder that affects women’s ovaries. The disorder causes inflamed ovaries, abdominal pain, depression, weight gain, and possible infertility issues. Receiving this news on top of my previous diagnosis broke me. At that moment I realized that I was unable to go through this journey alone. I was in need of guidance and people who understood me.

Quickly after, I was connected with a Charlotte nonprofit organization, Carolina Breast Friends: The Pink House. Upon visiting The Pink House I shared my story and my struggles with depression and the constant fear I was living through. They suggested that I get connected with a Fort Mill nonprofit they worked closely with, NothingPink. They mentioned that NothingPink raised awareness for individuals like myself who knew they had a high risk of developing cancer. They mentioned that NothingPink hosts two monthly support group meetings, one being held at the Pink House. On a whim, I drove alone to the support group meeting. Although I knew no one there, and they weren’t expecting me, I was desperate to feel like I belonged somewhere amidst this diagnosis.

During the support group meeting, I was able to share my story of genetic testing and the struggles I was facing post diagnosis. I could see the look of surprise and shock on their faces as they realized I had already undergone genetic testing. They had never known of anyone else to be genetically tested at 18 years old. After the meeting, I was able to meet and connect with their volunteer coordinator. NothingPink was having their annual fundraiser in less than 2 months, and I was eager to volunteer. After the event, I stayed in close contact with NothingPink and continued to attend their support group meetings. These meetings brought me comfort and I was able to learn what life was like being BRCA positive from women who also shared this mutation.

As my partnership with NothingPink started to form, the summer between my Sophomore and Junior year of college, I was looking for an internship and was quickly offered a position with the nonprofit for the summer. NothingPink had never had an intern before, and I was flattered that they were willing to create the position for me as a way to learn more about the business and operations side of the organization. As an Intern, I aided in hosting and running bi-weekly support group meetings, and helped create a support group committee to mentor and provide relationships to those newly getting connected. I worked in community outreach programs and assisted with speaking engagements. I partnered with the NothingPink board to create and organize a business plan and learned the inner working of finance and marketing within nonprofit work. As a main project, I assisted NothingPink in hiring a videographer and creating a series of promotional videos for the website.

Overall, this internship and my continuing relationship with NothinPink has been the biggest transformation in my life and through my diagnosis. I’m not someone who typically believed in fate, but looking back I know that I was meant to find out about my diagnosis young as it lead me to these women who continuously uplift and encourage me. Many people ask me if its hard to be a public advocate and work daily to promote such a private and difficult part of my life. To that I say: If not me, then who? This initiative is my life, and I will forever work to promote genetic testing and the power that lies within prevention.