Brittany Ferreira

I am a twenty year old girl who is curently studying Journalism at Ryerson University. Until recently, I was on the path of becoming a graphic designer and have experience collaberating with large companies, including Honeywell and Medisystem, creating websites and logos. This career goal changed when I read an article in the Toronto Star that directly impacted my outlook on everyday life.

When I was 12 years old I became ill and was later diagnosed at 15 with Crohn's Disease. Having this illness greatly changed the way I lived my life. Small tasks that would normally be a breeze to complete became near impossible. I couldn't go to school, mostly working at home, which made me feel isolated. About two years ago I was researching my illness online (looking to see if the medical community has made any headway with a potential cure) when I came across an article in the Toronto Star. It was titled The Many Voices of Chron's. I couldn't believe what I was reading! People diagnosed with this illness were explaining all of the everyday struggles that I was experiencing. This made me feel validated and no longer alone.

Reading this article opened my eyes to how powerful journalism could be, even if it only impacts one person. From then on I knew that I wanted to give someone the piece of mind that was given to me when I needed it most. My dream is to one day offer this type of comfort to someone else who is in need.