"Kiss me good bye, I'm defying gravity, and you can't pull me down!!!" These words came from the mouth of a girl most of America has grown very well acquainted with over the years. They were said by the Wicked Witch of The West from the Wizard of Oz. When most people think of the Wicked Witch of the West, they think of the quintessential Margaret Hamilton zooming around on her broomstick raising goose-bumps by shrieking at the top of her lungs, "I'll get you my pretty and your little dog too!" But, we have never stopped to think about what came before.

In 2003, the musical Wicked opened on Broadway. Wicked is the untold story of the Witches of Oz and it chronicles the life of Elphaba, the Wicked Witch, before she became wicked. Elphaba lived a very challenging childhood. Her green skin made her the object of ridicule of many of her peers. In her teen years, Elphaba discovers that she has some very unique powers that could be used for good. The song Defying Gravity, falls at the end of the first act of the musical when Eplphaba decides that she is not going to let anyone put her down anymore and she is literally going to "defy gravity"!

Now, what would you say if I said that I have learned to fly? Science has proven that it is physically impossible to flap my arms and levitate, but I have learned to fly in a different way. I have learned how to grasp my broomstick firmly by its handle and soar above the expectations of the people around me.

I was forced to quit my sports and dance classes. My disease was pulling me down and forcing me to stop doing the things that I treasured most. But, instead of living with it and accepting that I couldn't do everything that other people could, I wanted to continue to lead a normal life. Instead of participating in sports, I turned to acting and musical theater. While I can't play sports anymore, I have found a love for something equally, if not more thrilling. I have been singing in my school choir for 5 years. I have participated in all of the plays at my school. I have also played violin since I was five and I have been in orchestra for the past four years.

I have also learned how to fly from volunteering for the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Over the years, I have found my voice within the CCFA community. I am the current Youth Ambassador for my local chapter of the CCFA. I have shared my story at many of the CCFA fundraisers. I have created a video chronicling my journey with this disease that has been shared at fundraisers and education conferences and to promote awareness about the disease across America and the UK. After contacting local media, I appeared on in the newspaper and on TV, telling my story and spreading awareness.