When I was struggling with my own eating disorder it became very clear to me that not a lot of people understood what I was going through, and when I was brave enough to talk about my illness, I felt insecure because of the stigma that having an eating disorder brought. There was a time I didn’t believe recovery would be possible for me. When I felt isolated and alone, I turned to NEDA for the encouragement to keep going when things got tough. I decided I wanted to give back to the organization that gave so much to me, and was hopeful I could help change the conversation around eating disorders.

The girl that didn’t believe she would recover would become trained in the Body Project. She went to Albany during National Eating Disorders Awareness Week to speak to representatives about mental health parity. She would become a policy and development volunteer, a walk coordinator, and attend many other NEDA Walks. That girl found her voice and turned something so negative into something meaningful. Volunteering has given me so much joy and fulfillment, and being a part of this organization has been the greatest experience of my life, which has provided me with more purpose than I ever imagined. NEDA is not just a beacon of hope for me, but for millions of other people as well.

Together we are making a difference in the lives of those affected by eating disorders.

Paige is a senior at Drew University studying psychology and is currently a development intern with the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). In her spare time, Paige enjoys playing sports, hiking, watching movies and hanging out with her friends.