On the first day of his first job, at just fifteen years old, Stephen Stewart experienced his first seizure. Now, ten years later, Stephen works at Merrill Lynch where he is an Officer; Registered Client Associate.
Now twenty-six, he effectively manages his epilepsy through medication, prioritizing rest, and staying attuned to his body. Stephen has currently been seizure-free for the past two months!
In addition to maintaining being seizure free, Stephen has achieved significant milestones. Recently, he has devoted months to studying diligently to successfully pass numerous FINRA tests essential for his career. These exams cover a broad range of subjects on the markets and the securities industry and its regulatory structure. This includes knowledge of FINRA rules and the rules of other self-regulatory organizations (SROs).
Furthermore, in his free time, Stephen has led a youth group for high school students at his church. Stephen uses his knowledge, skillset, and experience to help young adults find their way and overcome challenges. Inspiring others by sharing his story has been an accomplishment that has not only helped others learn but has also helped Stephen feel more confident.
Stephen has recently started sharing his epilepsy journey to inspire others. After years of not talking about his epilepsy, he now talks about his experiences on his social media platforms. Additionally, he has begun to inform his colleagues about seizure first aid safety and how to respond if he were to have a seizure. Now many of his colleagues have taken steps to get seizure first aid certified with Stephen’s encouragement.
Stephen has shown remarkable resilience in the face of challenges presented by his diagnosis. He shared that epilepsy has significantly impacted his mental health, and over the years he has had to overcome the mental burden of his diagnosis. Stephen shared that he found it challenging to interact with others in public without anxiety of the unexpected. Stephen stated that “many medications have a variety of side effects and the idea of not being in control of your own body is anxiety producing.”
Stephen stated that one way he has tried to overcome these challenges is by showcasing his best self to the world, despite dealing with epilepsy, and always tries to make an extra effort to maintain a positive outlook despite all odds!
Not only is Stephen an advocate for epilepsy awareness in his personal life, but he has also taken action by working with The Epilepsy Foundation of Northeastern New York to further his efforts. He began taking strides and raising funds for epilepsy at the 2023 Walk to END EPILEPSY last September. He was inspired by the community effort to end the stigma around this disease and shared that he found it encouraging to see how many individuals show up to recognize the relevance of epilepsy.
This year at the 16th Annual Walk to END EPILEPSY, Stephen served as a 2024 Walk Ambassador. Stephen stated that he walks because “I want to raise awareness & help support an organization dedicated to people with my same condition.”
Check out photos from the 16th Annual Walk to END EPILEPSY by visiting: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.921057796731601&type=3
What does Stephen want others to know about epilepsy?
“Just because someone isn’t having a seizure in the moment, doesn’t mean that their condition isn’t still causing them to struggle”
