I am the survivor who doesn't give in to the seemingly innocent pointing, anxious stuttering, or subdued whispering. The survivor who reassures others with scars that their beauty still remains. The survivor who acknowledges that her scar is intertwined with her essence, her persona, her existence.

My scar runs deeper than my skin, and modifying it would be like erasing the girl I am becoming, and ultimately will be.

- Julia Salazar

Julia Salazar

College: Providence College - Fall, 2025

Her CDH Story: At age seven I began to grow conscious of the stares. The first time I took my swim shirt off at my local pool club, my cheeks flamed red and my heart palpitated as I noticed the innocent pointing and subdued whispering of children around me. Often, the remembrance of these moments leads to the question: Did I make the right decision? This question takes me back to a pivotal moment at age fourteen, inside of a doctor's office.

The room seemed to still as our eyes met. An unspoken understanding about the gravity of this very moment passed between us. For so long, the man standing before me was a distant presence, just another name on my medical chart. Yet now, he stood before me, slightly over fourteen years later. Although I had no recollection, I had last seen him on May 27th, 2007. The day he saved my life.

I am a survivor of Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. To me, CDH will only ever be a large scar that resides on the left side of my stomach. It will only ever be jagged lines and scar tissue, which run deeper than just my skin. It will only ever be an everlasting mark signifying my chance at a future. Within the confines of the hospital room, Doctor Campbell uttered the words that a younger version of me may have wanted: "You have the option to fix the look of your scar. I can do a surgery to clean the scar up, making it one clear line." How could the person who made me a survivor take away the very proof of my survival?

He and my mother continued to speak about the idea of erasing the authentic nature of my scar. Yet, to me, erasing the scar would only erase the years of struggle and growth that forged my confidence within it today. In moments of doubt over this decision, my fingers trace the jagged lines that have become etched into my soul. I do this so that in moments of pride, I share my story. I state with conviction that my scar symbolizes a part of me that will never fade-the resilient survivor within.

The survivor who doesn't give in to the seemingly innocent pointing, anxious stuttering, or subdued whispering. The survivor who reassures others with scars that their beauty still remains. The survivor who acknowledges that her scar is intertwined with her essence, her persona, her existence. My scar runs deeper than my skin, and modifying it would be like erasing the girl I am becoming, and ultimately will be..

Hobbies and Interests: Julia is a competitive dancer and volunteer dance instructor at the Glastonbury Dance Center where helps instruct and mentor younger dancers in ballet, jazz, and tap classes once a week. She also assists with choreography, demonstrate techniques, and provides encouragement to foster confidence and growth in students as a leader. She is also a member of Big Siblings Club, Key Club, Yearbook Club, and the Unified theater Club.

Professional Aspirations: Julia plans on majoring in Psychology at Providence College. Her ideal workplace would be in a school system as a School Psychologist or as a BCBA (Board Certified Behavior Analyst). Additionally, having always had a passion for writing, reading and the subject of English in general, she believes those passions also hold a place in her professional future as well.

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