Celebration of Music - Talent Search

My name is Sela and I’m going into my freshman year of high school. Although I’ve been singing since I was two, I’ve been taking lessons and performing since I was ten. When I was five years old, I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. Whether I like it or not, diabetes will always be a part of me, so I chose to embrace it from a very young age. When I was diagnosed, I honestly didn’t know what was happening to me. Throughout my week-long stay at the hospital, I just remember how much I was singing, trying to block everything out. Looking back, singing is one of the few memories I have of the hospital. Nine years later and I still have my good days and my bad days just like anyone else, but music?

Music and my parents are the only constants in my life. Music has always been my deepest escape. The place I can go to be happy, either to celebrate or when nothing else is going right in my life. Once I start singing, everything else just melts away into the background. I feel as though nothing can hurt me as long as I have music. All I have in my mind is nailing that high note on my favorite song.

If I’m given the opportunity, I’m going to use my music for good. I want to sing meaningful lyrics that give you intense feelings. Whether that’s joy, hope, sadness, or any other emotions that you need to feel to get you through your day. To any Type 1 Diabetics who need to hear this at any point in your life: Don’t let anyone try to tell you that you can’t achieve your dreams because you’re a diabetic. Diabetes is only a speed bump. Not a wall blocking you from achieving your dreams. Speaking as a T1D, I know how difficult it is to continue. There are times when you just want to give up, but this disease isn’t stopping you from doing anything you want to do. We just have to work a bit harder than the average healthy person. I know we don’t have a lot of Type 1 Diabetic role models, but I hope that I can be one for you, whether you have Type 1 or not.