My name is Paige and I am graduating from the Social Service worker Program.
I suffer from chronic pain in my shoulders and neck, and I experience migraine headaches. I have 2 vertebrates in my cervical spine that have been fused together since birth which is called Klippel Feil syndrome.
Growing up I felt things more deeply than anyone else in my grade and I grew up with a lot of grief; losing so many of my loved ones to cancer. I remember having my first panic attack when I was 5 but I did not know what it was. As I got older, it got harder for me to handle my overwhelming amount of anger and sadness. I got diagnosed with both generalized anxiety disorder and depression when I was 18.
My experience at Centennial has benefited me and shaped my identity. I have gained more confidence, learned self-care techniques, how to advocate for my own needs and how to manage my symptoms while being in the Social Service Worker (SSW) program.