When it comes to perseverance, Elianna “Ellie” Bailey could write a book. She writes it every day about how she lives her life.
As the North Idaho Christian High School student says herself, she has been sick for as long as she can remember, and the medications she needs to take to treat those illnesses make her feel sick. And yet, as teacher Jennifer Scott observed, “you wouldn’t know it, even by having her in the classroom.”
In addition to dealing with illnesses such as juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, migraines and Graves’ disease (an autoimmune disorder), among others, throughout her 19 years, Bailey said that as a baby she had an adverse reaction to a vaccine and lost her ability. talk. He suffered from selective mutism until he was 4 years old. He also couldn’t read until he was 11.
Growing up in a Christian family, while she was angry at God for a while and disagreed with her situation, she came to realize that being angry at God was not the way to go. With the support of her parents (Sarah, communications director at Candlelight Christian Fellowship, and Kent, a sheriff and retired military officer) and her church, she came to understand that she had gifts to share.
She decided not to let her illnesses bog her down. “I didn’t want to be known as just the girl with chronic health problems.”
“My mom, who is the smartest person I know, told me that, sure, I can feel bad and do nothing, or go and be active,” Bailey said. “I’ll still feel bad, but at least I’ll be out there doing something.”
Now she likes to walk and explore outdoors, paint, and participate in some school activities. As her teacher said: “There are no excuses with her. When she sets her mind to something, she gives it her all.”
Bailey said the greatest gift of illness is having empathy for others. She has been able to help another girl with chronic health problems through talking and listening, and she tries to educate others about the added dimension of being able to do the work expected when you don’t feel well.
“Many young people, especially, don’t understand it, but they are open to learning,” he added.
Bailey traveled with his church to Israel last year and will be taking a field trip to Belize this spring. It has been a revelation for her to experience other cultures and witness how people with differences find ways to live and work together, while recognizing that it does not always work smoothly.
Embracing and working alongside people different from yourself has inspired her to attend North Idaho College this fall, then transfer to the University of Idaho’s international studies program and eventually become an immigration attorney.
As for why this specialty, he commented that he wants everyone to be safe and that, when he feels that there are prejudices against people from other places, he wants them to be treated legally and fairly. “No one should suffer discrimination because they are different or not what the majority around them are used to living.”
[fifu]
Keynote USA
For the Latest Local News, Follow Keynote USA Local on Twitter.