In 1993, the AbbVie CF Scholarship was created to support young adults with CF as they pursue higher education.

Since its inception, the scholarship program has awarded over $3 million in scholarships to over 1,000 students. This is one of those students.

Taylor MacLean: My name is Taylor MacLean. I am 25 years old, and I'm currently getting my doctorate in school and
clinical psychology.

Joel MacLean: Taylor was diagnosed with cystic fibrosis when she was five years old.

Lisa MacLean: It made our family who we are today.

Joel MacLean: We made a decision very early that we are just going to live life normally. Look, we have it, we'll do absolutely 100% everything we're supposed to do, but it's not going to change our life, define our life, or dictate at all.

Lisa MacLean: She played sports, she played soccer, she cheered, she thrived in every single thing that she did.

Joel MacLean Jr: Her dealing with CF gives her traits to deal with everything else in her life. She's, like, one of the best in her class, and like always been like the smartest kid. I look up to her. It inspires me to do well in my life.

Julia MacLean: The challenges like growing up with a sibling with CF have definitely grown since I was younger, because I didn't really recognize it when I was younger.

Taylor MacLean: Going to college was definitely kind of a wake up call for me for my health. I got wrapped right up into the schedule of it, hanging out with friends, going out, going to classes at like weird times of the day. Because I wasn't keeping up with my treatments, my health, you know, paid the price. At times, my CF has, like, flared up, and it made me question whether or not school, like, especially like a doctorate degree, is, like, practical and the right thing for me. But I decided ultimately that I wanted to do it anyway, and I would just take the challenges as they come.

Taylor MacLean: I was walking into class and I received a call, and they told me that I won the scholarship, um, for $25,000. I couldn't believe it. I called my parents immediately; they were the first people that I told.

Joel MacLean: The great part about the AbbVie scholarship was, it wasn't a needs-based. It was merit-based.

Taylor MacLean: So, having that peace of mind, knowing that I had this money now that I could use toward my education, was a blessing. I couldn't be more grateful.

Joel MacLean: If anybody is thinking about applying, don't be hesitant.

Taylor MacLean: Go for it. You know, apply, give it your best shot, and you know, you never know, you may, you may get the call just like I did.

Julia MacLean: I can't wait to grow up with Taylor, see what she accomplishes.

Taylor MacLean: I'm hopeful for my future. You know, I want to have a family, I want to have kids. I'm going to be a psychologist one day, working with children and parents with chronic illness, so I'm excited. I can't wait to see, like, where my future takes me.