“Life-threatening food allergies have undoubtedly influenced the student and social justice advocate that I am today.”
“Life-threatening food allergies have undoubtedly influenced the student and social justice advocate that I am today. Scouring food labels allowed me to dive into the world of literature early. Reading has become an escape for me when I suffer from food allergy-induced anxiety. I picked up my first Harry Potter novel in second grade but found myself fascinated by the Spanish version in high school. I’ve been studying Spanish since I was four years old. My love for reading and writing translated into a fascination with the Spanish language and later an interest in social justice. Without the necessity of reading food labels, I often wonder what my life and passions would look like today.
As I continued my studies in the Spanish language, I dreamed of studying abroad. However, the fear of having an allergic reaction 4,000+ miles from home was always in the back of my mind. Despite this fear, I completed an intensive Spanish language course in Alicante, Spain the summer after my junior year of high school. My struggles with food allergies became infinitely harder with the language barrier, especially during an anaphylactic reaction while abroad. In that moment of panic, fear, and frustration, it was up to me to find a way to the emergency room. Upon arrival, I waited behind a desk with treatment delayed until all of my international documentation was checked. With my passport and insurance in one hand and air barely reaching my lungs, I realized at that moment that I wanted to dedicate my life to ensuring that every person has timely access to quality medical care, especially in the event of an emergency. Before, my allergies were simply a label. Now, my diagnosis is my calling. This experience opened my eyes to a world and community that didn’t have the resources and advocacy it deserved. Shortly after I returned home, I began working closely with Food Allergy Research & Education (FARE) and the Spokin Food Allergy app. I was appointed as a member of the Teen Advisory Board of FARE. I also founded a Women In STEM chapter at my high school in which food allergies were largely emphasized during medical career discussions.
As a rising sophomore at Loyola University Chicago, I am busy advocating for a change in the university’s food provider by writing legislation as an elected Senator and Justice Committee Chair of Student Government. The current provider is infamous for its lack of sustainable practices and disregard of dietary restrictions, making it a challenge for students with severe food allergies and/or dietary restrictions to safely eat in the dining halls. Not only does this impede a student’s ability to have a normal social life, it further exposes the priorities of large corporations that would rather cut corners than serve food options that are accessible and safe for all. In the future, I hope to channel my passion for food allergy awareness and advocacy into my career as a bilingual physician and social justice advocate.”
— Alexandra B.