2022 Blog
2022 was a year of transition for me, one that built on everything I learned the year before but also pushed me in new directions. After the ups and downs of 2021, I felt like I was finally hitting my stride in 2022. School became more stable, with a return to full in-person learning, and I threw myself into my classes and extracurriculars. My confidence grew, partly because I started seeing more results from my light therapy. My skin was showing visible improvement, and that gave me a boost, not just physically but mentally. It felt like a reward for all the patience and persistence I had put in over the years.
I also became more involved in HOSA, stepping into a leadership role within the club. It wasn’t something I had planned, but after qualifying for the state competition the previous year, I knew I wanted to take on more responsibility. I organized events, mentored newer members, and helped prepare our team for competitions. It felt empowering to be part of something that had such a positive impact on my school experience. My passion for healthcare and helping others started to crystallize during this time. I began to realize that I wanted to pursue a future in a field where I could make a difference, especially for people who face challenges like mine.
Outside of school, 2022 was also the year I decided to launch my own website focused on vitiligo awareness. It started as an idea I had toyed with in 2021, but in 2022, I took the plunge. I spent weeks building the site, creating content, and sharing resources for people like me who needed a community to connect with. It was a lot of work, but seeing it come together made me proud. I received messages from others with vitiligo, thanking me for the information and sharing their own stories. That was when it hit me—this project was bigger than me. It was about creating a space where people could feel seen, understood, and supported.
By the end of 2022, I felt like I had grown so much. Not just in terms of my personal journey with vitiligo, but in the way I approached life in general. I was more confident in who I was, more driven to help others, and more aware of the strength it took to keep going, even when things were tough. I knew there was still a long way to go, but 2022 showed me that I was on the right path. It was a year of clarity, where I started to see how my experiences—both good and bad—could shape the future I wanted to create.
