Hi! My name is Amelia Kovalenko. I went to middle school at Saints Peter and Paul and am now a freshman at Sacred Heart Cathedral Preparatory. I was born and raised in San Francisco, where I live with my mom, dad, younger sister, and two cats.

I love to read and hang out with my friends in my free time. A fun fact about me: if I really like a book, I can finish it in two days or less, no matter how long it is! I also love traveling, especially with my family around Europe.

I am a Type 1 Diabetic. I was diagnosed when I was 10 years old, during spring break in 2022. It has been three years since then. Diabetes has been a huge and difficult responsibility to manage, but it has also helped me grow so much as a person. I’ve formed incredible friendships and connections that I’ll cherish forever. Even though it’s been a hard journey, it’s one I’ll always look back on with pride and gratitude.

I also love to volunteer—especially with an organization called Breakthrough T1D. I’ve helped out at galas, participated in lectures, and walked to raise funds for diabetes research.

Living with diabetes has also sparked my love for science. Ever since my diagnosis, I’ve become more and more interested in science and STEM. Now, I’m privileged to be part of the Inquiry and Innovation program, where I’ll get to work with amazing people for the next four years and continue growing and thriving in my interests.