Annelise Gains Confidence at Camp

Growing up with a chronic health condition isn’t easy. When other kids your age are out having fun, you’re stuck at the doctor’s office or in the hospital. You’re bullied too. You question your worth, and your self-confidence takes a hit. I know this because I was that kid. I was born with sickle cell anemia.

I also know the life-changing power of camp. I have attended Brainy Camps of Children’s National and Camp Accomplish for nearly a decade. It’s where I developed leadership skills, and where I gained the confidence needed to pursue my dreams. 

This fall, I start my sophomore year at Stevenson University where I’m studying healthcare management. I’m going into this field because I want to continue what I started at Camp Accomplish and help people with chronic health conditions and disabilities live their best lives. Camp is where I learned that my sickle cell anemia doesn’t define me. Because of camp, I know my future is bright.