Why You Should Apply for JDRF 2017 Children’s Congress
R: Brandon Kosikov, Hannah Gammon, Cindy Chen, Will Chisholm, Ryan Jennings
M: Allison Kasper, Crystal Bowersox, Jonah Osby-Vieira, Gary Hall, Jr., Andrew Stark
F: Eileen Roux, Austin Cottarel, Julianna Briggs, Sophia Catlin Honig, Willa Spalter, Jonah Marks
By Austin Cottarel
JDRF Children’s Congress was such an amazing experience for me and I will never forget it. Children’s Congress, or CC as it is often referred to, is a place where kids with type 1 diabetes (T1D) get to be with other kids just like them. I remember a couple friends I’d made and I had a “number off” with these other children as soon as I got to the hotel. A “number off” is where two or more kids test their number at the same time and the better number or blood glucose is the winner. The winner now has bragging rights over the loser. It is moments and experiences that make CC such a large attraction for T1D kids to attend.
With 150 delegates chosen to attend out of 1,500 applicants from all over the United States, to represent my district and state, as I’d travel to Washington D.C. and advocate for JDRF and funding for the Special Diabetes Program, I was thrilled. I first applied when I was 5 years old, and wasn’t accepted. Then I applied again at 7 years old, and yet again did not get accepted. Then on my third attempt, I was accepted and I was extremely happy.
I still recall that moment I opened my acceptance letter and started to comprehend what I had just achieved. I had just accomplished my dream. And I was about to join a legacy of impactful voices for kids just like me.
Then, in just a blink of an eye I was on a plane to Washington D.C. and ready to speak with Members of Congress. I had never met anyone famous or anything like this so I was extremely nervous, yet enthusiastic. Walking into the office, I looked around and saw all the decorations and architecture and was completely astounded. Then my mom, another delegate from California, and his mom, and I started walking to Anna Eshoo’s office and that’s when I felt most nervous. Then we walk into a woman with all smiles and open arms – this woman was Representative Anna Eshoo. We had our meeting and mentioned our journey and how we got to where we are today. This was truly eye opening experience for me because there she was, a person who is big, and famous and she is asking me about my life and my journey. Then we left and CC13 was over. Yet my journey didn’t end there. I have attended Promise to Remember Me meetings with Rep. Eshoo since then and it shows me how she still is that same open-armed, all smiles person I first met back when I was 10. Now at age 14, I still enjoy attending the Promise To Remember Me meetings with Rep. Eshoo and her staff. This just shows how one experience can make such an impact.
These reasons are why I strongly I encourage you, all of you T1D kids that haven’t yet applied to consider it. This is not just a plane flight to Washington D.C., it is a life changing moment. This is where you go from a T1D kid to a T1D advocate. This is where you make your mark.
Click here to learn more about JDRF Children’s Congress. Apply today!
Click here to learn more about JDRF Promise to Remember Me Campaign.