Meet debra Intern, Leandro!

Hi everyone!

My name is Leandro, and I am a 16-year-old student at Washington International School. I am excited to share my journey and experiences as an intern at debra of America in celebration of National Intern Day. 

I decided to become an intern for debra for various reasons. I have EB Simplex. Before becoming an intern, I had never spoken to any other person with EB, and I had no one to share my struggles with. EB was an obstacle to some of my core hobbies, such as football (soccer), weightlifting, LEGO® building, and anything that caused friction. I always tried to find ways to pursue my passions despite the challenges of living with EB. I wanted the same lifestyle for everyone with EB, and I wanted to make sure that EB was holding back as few people as possible. This is what inspired me to become an intern and look for opportunities to give back to the community. 

The most rewarding part of my internship so far has been connecting with my mentor and mentee through the debra Youth Mentorship Program. This part of my internship has not only allowed me to view the lives of two other people with EB but has also led me to build connections with them. My mentor is an amazingly kind person who always answers questions about the college application process, life after college, and other related topics, but also engages in fun conversations about sports, friends, and anything that we want to share in the moment. I am grateful to have met someone who is not only a great mentor but also a great friend.  

My mentee is a young primary schooler who is very lively and good-hearted. In our meetings, we play with toys or online while talking about life and I support him and give him advice when he comes to me with any struggles he has regarding EB or life in general. He often talks about his excitement to see me at the debra Care Conference, making me feel like I have made a difference in someone’s life. I look forward to seeing both of my mentors every week through the Mentorship Program and they have added a lot of value to my life. 

My internship reinforced my belief that EB is still a disease that needs more support. Through talking to my mentor and mentee, hearing their struggles, and seeing the hard work that the debra team does every day, I feel that widespread awareness and help are needed. For example, when speaking to people who wanted to go to the conference, I noticed that many people struggled with financial issues and could not go, despite their eagerness to get the newest information available to deal with everyday problems. I believe that if more people knew about EB, donations, awareness, and support would increase, massively helping the community. 

Thank you for reading about my journey. I hope my story inspires others to get involved and support the amazing work being done to help those living with EB. 

- Leandro, debra of America Intern