Hey! My name is Madison Paek, and I'm a high school sophomore in southern California living with Graves' Disease (Hyperthyroidism). I was diagnosed in second grade and vividly remember being SO freaked out over the fact that it was chronic— what do you mean I would have this thing forever?

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Hyperthyroidism leads to a variety of symptoms, including large eyes, and it's probably the most prominent thing about my appearance (although you can't really tell from the photo here due to the angle). As a 100% Korean, I struggled with identity— previously having smaller eyes and wanting to look Caucasian, but after being diagnosed with Graves' Disease, I ironically struggled with larger eyes and wished to look more "Asian." In other words, I was stuck in the middle, and I was frustrated. It wasn't only that, my rapid heartbeat would induce dizzying fatigue, making even simple physical activity suddenly overwhelming, and I would often sit out on the sidelines during PE in elementary school. It was hard to explain what my invisible condition was when people often invalidated it by saying, "You look fine, it's just running," but it wasn't; it was so much more, and I didn't have the voice to correct them.

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So I gave myself a microphone. I joined ASB and successfully ran for president twice, winning both ASB freshman class president and sophomore class president, as well as successfully campaigned and won a place on the California State Board for CASL (California Association of Student Leaders) as Southern Regional Director. I challenged the limits of my physicality by joining Air Force JROTC, and rather than using my condition as a crutch to skip out, I kept it hidden, wanting to participate in the military drills and physical training— to prove to myself that I can do it— that I can achieve all the same.​

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And you can do it too. Your potential is not limited to a diagnosis. I've always dreamed of a community where youth like me could not only be supported but thrive, especially since I quickly realized that there was little support for the younger generation regarding autoimmune conditions.

 

Youth are the last to be diagnosed, as our symptoms are often underestimated and disregarded as "hormonal" or "nothing to worry about at our age," and, in part, we are the last to receive any treatment, if any, because general research is mostly designed for those older than us. As a result, I took matters into my own hands and started planning an organization focused on educating, supporting, and empowering all youth with autoimmune conditions, eventually giving rise to See Me Strong.

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If my story resonates with you, I invite you to join this movement to bring greater awareness, support, opportunity, and empowerment to youth, just like you and me. It is possible, and you're not alone. Our voices together can be amplified to truly make a difference... because everyone deserves a microphone. 

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