When asked what event changed my life the most, the answer came to me faster than the solution to 2+2. My life defining moment happened on March 11, 1997, when I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes. In all the years I have had this disease, I have found it to be both a blessing and a curse. It has contributed to my positive outlook on life but it has also caused me physical and emotional hardships. While I wish I did not have to live with the daily grind of diabetes, it has made me a more responsible, mature and empathetic person.