Sarah Hayes, a recent high school graduate who has been seizure-free for 7 years, is aiming high as she embarks on the next chapter of her life. A successful 2024 graduate of Bethlehem High School, Sarah has not only secured a spot at her top choice university, Binghamton University, but is this year’s Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York (EFNENY) scholarship recipient.
Despite these victories, Sarah’s journey has been anything but easy. Each challenge has only fueled her passion to share her story and inspire others.
At 8 years old, Sarah was diagnosed with epilepsy and was experiencing complex partial seizures. Now, ten years into her diagnosis, as an eighteen-year-old, Sarah is using her story to inspire others and to help end the stigma around epilepsy. Sarah has been actively involved with EFNENY since her diagnosis in third grade. With the help of her parents and EFNENY, Sarah has advocated to have her teachers, staff members and peers trained and educated about epilepsy.
Sarah stated, both from her own experience and through general observation, that “teachers can be helpful by being alert to changes in learning, behavior, and emotional well-being in students with epilepsy and by providing information to the appropriate contacts. It is not only important to know what seizures look like, but also how to help keep students safe during one.”
Although Sarah felt supported by her school with her diagnosis, she still struggled in the classroom with being academically confident. When she entered Middle School, she felt overwhelmed with the newness of the coordination of new classrooms, having a myriad of teachers, and the magnitude of her new workload. Sarah not only lives with epilepsy but also has been diagnosed with Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Sarah needed some extra resources to help her adjust and thrive academically.
Through school resources, Sarah learned valuable tools to improve her academic experience and strengthen skills to become a more efficient learner who was properly equipped to handle a rigorous workload. Sarah was introduced to a program called GROW (Goal Setting, Responsibility, Organization, and Work Ethic) that assists individuals who struggle with time management and executive functioning. Sarah said that her academic growth could not have been possible without the support of her parents, school resources and EFNENY. Now as an incoming college freshman, Sarah is empowered with a skill set that works for her and will allow her success this Fall at Binghamton University as she pursues a degree in psychology.
Once on a more structured path, Sarah was able to begin dedicating more of her time to others. During her time at Bethlehem High School, she spent a lot of time working with Best Buddies, a student-run friendship club, which creates buddy pairs between students with and without disabilities. This organization aims to create an inclusive school climate for students. Best Buddies works to curate a community culture of acceptance while also providing dynamic interactions and strong socialization opportunities that sharpen communication skills and foster creative thinking. Being an advocate for these populations required Sarah to work with the school community to bring awareness and education to the forefront.
Sarah plans to continue to devote her time to working with kids with special needs. Sarah stated that “I not only work for them, but people like me. I too have a disability. Living with epilepsy and ADHD has allowed me to lead with actions and give others a voice. I plan to continue to drive to be heard for myself and others.”
What does Sarah want others to know about epilepsy?
“Always know, that there is a community of people that are here to guide you along your journey, and you can and will live a normal life.”