My name is Claire Limbert and I am from the suburbs of Cincinnati, Ohio. I am from a family of six consisting of my Mom and Dad, my older sister Allison, my older brother Mitchell, and my younger brother David. I come from a relatively small extended family consisting of only about six cousins. Since my family is so small, we are also a very close-knit group of people. I am a very family-oriented person and truly enjoy spending time with all of them. I have learned that family is who is always going to be there for you and they’ll love you for who you truly are. Friendships may come and go but family will be there forever.

Before coming to The Ohio State University I was a student at Ursuline Academy, an all-girls Catholic high school. I went to a public school from kindergarten through eighth grade so this was a very big change for me. I only had a couple friends going there and I’m not even Catholic. I had issues making friends the first year but by the end of senior year I didn’t want to leave. Going to an all-girls school, the teachers really emphasized women empowerment. The school motto was “Voice. Values. Vision.” meaning the school helped us find our voice and how to use it for good, how to find our own values and morals, and  prepare for our vision of the future. Looking back now the school really did teach me all those things. The teachers would always say “We learn not for school, but for life”. Now I understand what they mean because if it hadn’t have been for Ursuline I don’t think I would be the same person I am today. I went into high school rather shy and afraid to raise my hand in class, but now am very open to participating. Coming from a family that didn’t go to church much, the Catholic exposure at school really did help me find my own values and what I believe in. And lastly, Ursuline helped me achieve my vision of going to The Ohio State University.

High school wasn’t all rainbows and flowers though. All throughout my life I had been very active. I played just about every sport imaginable including soccer, basketball, volleyball, swimming, flag football, tennis, and softball. I went into freshman year playing soccer and basketball and made both teams fairly easily. Though when summer soccer conditioning of sophomore year rolled around, something felt off. I had just gotten back from a three month ankle sprain injury. The doctors were a little worried that a simple sprain took three months to heal, but told me I was clear to play. I was so excited for the season to start again, but I couldn’t keep up with my teammates anymore. My whole body would be in so much pain all practice. I suffered through a couple months until I got injured again. This time it was my hip. Out for another two months. My parents began to get worried and proceeded to take me to a pain specialist doctor. After some tests the doctors diagnosed me with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, a genetic defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments. Symptoms include joint hypermobility, loose and unstable joints which are prone to frequent dislocations and subluxations,  joint pain, severe scarring, and slow and poor wound healing. With all this being said, the doctors said contacts sports were no longer an option for me. I was obviously devastated. I tried to prove the doctors wrong by playing basketball that season, but it was so painful. Luckily I didn’t get injured so I got to play the whole season but I knew there was no way I could play again.

Now being done with sports, I had so much extra time on my hands I didn’t even know what to do. I actually had time to do other extra curricular activities except just sports. I signed up for many, many community service opportunities, signed up for clubs, and got a job. Through all these new different activities I found things that I really enjoyed. My favorites were volunteering at the animal shelter, being a Big Brothers Big Sisters mentor, volunteering in a kindergarten classroom, and participating in science club. Sometimes I think I would have never found these passions of mine if I hadn’t been diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome because if I never had this syndrome I would have never quit soccer and basketball. I’m not saying I’m happy to have this disorder, I’m saying I it taught me how to find the good out of a bad situation.