In 2011, I suffered my first diagnosed concussion while playing ringette, after being hit from behind into the boards. It wasn’t until later that night, that symptoms of a concussion like headaches, nausea, light sensitivity, dizziness, and ringing in my ears started to appear.

Initially, I was told by doctors that I would return to play in provincials, which were three months away. Days went by and my symptoms persisted, preventing my return for the season. The prolonged concussion impacted not only my physical health but my social, mental, and emotional well-being. I was in high school at the time and and as an extroverted person, I had to miss out on social events, leaving me socially isolated from everything my friends were doing. People's dismissive attitudes hurt and I was often told by my peers that I was "faking it.”

After lots of hard work, I graduated high school, and pursued my undergrad in Public Health at the University of Waterloo I then went on to earn a Master of Public Health from Brock University. Once gI graduated, I knew that I wanted to use my personal experience with concussion and my Public Health background to make an impact within the brain injury community.

Despite ongoing challenges from my brain injury and a recent Epilepsy diagnosis in late 2022, I've learned to navigate these hurdles. This journey has highlighted my resilience, determination, and passion for helping the brain injury community. I share my story in hopes of inspiring others to persist.

Maintaining a positive perspective can lead to incredible outcomes!