My entire life I have always tried to be the best me, but as I grew up, I realized that I was stopping myself from reaching my full potential. I was born with the rare disease called Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease (CMT), a disease that affects the nerves of my hands and legs. I held myself back from many opportunities granted to me because of the shame I felt towards the disease, I felt as if others would look down at me as less. I let my disease take over me and drown out the real me. As I started high school, I forced myself out of the shell that I built and gained a new sense of confidence, and even pride. I refused to let a disease stop me from becoming nothing but that disease. It has shaped me into the person that I am today. Although it