World Diabetes Day Logo

It’s World Diabetes Day, Let’s Talk About It.

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This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

“World Diabetes Day provides an opportunity to raise awareness about diabetes as a critical global public health issue and emphasize the collective and individual actions needed to improve the prevention, diagnosis and management of the condition.”

World Health Organization (WHO)

What is World Diabetes Day?

World Diabetes Day is the global awareness campaign dedicated to both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes! The day focuses on diabetes prevention, management and support. World Diabetes Day is recognized by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) and the World Health Organization (WHO) and celebrated worldwide.

Why November 14? World Diabetes Day is celebrated on November 14 each year to honor the birthday of Sir Frederick Banting, one of the two discoverers of insulin. In 1923, Banting sold all of the patents for insulin to the University of Toronto for $1 each stating, “Insulin does not belong to me, it belongs to the world.”

Before 1923, diabetes was a fatal disease. The life expectancy for a child diagnosed with Type 1 was less than one year, following diagnosis. Today, Type 1 diabetics are able to live a full life. Sir Frederick Banting and Charles Best changed the lives of diabetics forever.

World Diabetes Day is commemorated with a blue circle. The internationally recognized symbol represents unity in the global fight against diabetes. The day holds many events, educational activities and campaigns worldwide.

My Diagnosis

I was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes at the age of twelve. I was a rare case, diagnosed within three months of my pancreas shutting down. Most children are diagnosed as a result of a Diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), a life-threatening condition that can lead to diabetic coma or even death. Following a diagnosis, most children stay in the “honeymoon phase“, the remission period in which the body produces enough insulin to help control blood sugar levels, for a few months to a year. I was lucky enough to stay in the honeymoon phase for the next five years.

Type 1 Diabetes

Type 1 diabetes is the lesser known of the two types. It is a chronic autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks the pancreas and destroys insulin-producing cells. It is not preventable. Type 1 diabetes is also known as insulin-dependent diabetes due to patients requiring insulin for the rest of their lives. There is currently NOT a cure; only treatment options are available.

Type 1 diabetes most often develops during childhood. It is not caused by lifestyle choices, including dietary habits or exercise levels. Oftentimes, it is the result of a genetic predisposition, but can also be caused by environmental triggers and autoimmune reactions.

Common symptoms upon diagnosis include:

  • Frequent urination
  • Extreme thirst
  • Increased appetite
  • Unexplained weight loss
  • Fatigue
  • Blurry vision

However, all patients are different – some experience many symptoms while others never show a single sign.

My Greatest Source of Strength

At the time of my diagnosis, I received so many resources and support from the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF), now known as Breakthrough T1D. Upon my arrival to the hospital, I was gifted a “bag of hope.“

This bag of hope was a bookbag from the JDRF that contained:

Rufus was the best gift I ever received from the JRDF. Rufus was a teddy bear with diabetes who had marked spots where it is safe to give insulin. He came with his own storybook that had his experience with diabetes and how to treat it. I was able to practice my shots on him before I had to gain the courage to give them to myself.

As a fairly healthy and active 12 year old child, the diagnosis of diabetes was the last thing I expected to hear. The support and resources through the JDRF made it a little easier getting through the initial shock. Over time, diabetes has become something I don’t even think about. I am able to eat the same foods I always have, enjoy the same experiences as everyone else and continue on without it having a major impact on my life.

I encourage you to spend some time today learning more about both Type 1 and Type 2 and the associated risks with each.

The Original Mineapple Pie

A Snapshot Tour of the State Fair

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This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

Last weekend, the North Carolina State Fair closed for the season. Going to the fair is one of my favorite things to do in the fall. I love trying all of the new foods the fair has to offer each year and playing games, even if the majority are rigged. More than anything, my favorite thing to do at the fair is to walk around and “sight see”. I love to see all of the colors, signs and visually-aesthetic booths. This year at the fair, I decided to take my DSLR camera and do a photo walk! Below you can find a virtual snapshot tour of the fair featuring a few of my favorite images:

Fairground Flavors

Fresh Popcorn
Fresh Popcorn
Woody's Wing Wagon
Woody’s Wing Wagon
The Original Mineapple Pie
The Original Mineapple Pie
Deep Fried Apple Pie
Deep Fried Apple Pie

Classic Contests

Shoot Out the Star
Shoot Out the Star

Ride Attractions

The State Fair Flyer
The State Fair Flyer
Ferris Wheel #2
Ferris Wheel #2

Visuals and Details of the Fair

Woody's in the Sky
Woody’s in the Sky
Fair Food for Miles: Funnel Cakes, Burgers, Ice Cream and Chicken Fingers
Fair Food for Miles: Funnel Cakes, Burgers, Ice Cream and Chicken Fingers
Powers Great American Midways
Powers Great American Midways

All images captured using a Canon EOS 90D paired with a Canon EF-S 17-55mm lens. All images are property of Hailey Clodfelter.

Dancing with the Stars Canva Logo

Dancing with the Stars: A Masterclass in Storytelling through Movement

by HaileyLinkedInPosted on No Comments

This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

Storytelling is powerful. In my program, we focus on the power of storytelling in almost every class. How do you engage with your audience? How do you grab their attention? How do you tell your story?

We focus on storytelling with words through news writing, podcasts and video documentaries, but storytelling with words is simple- you say what you need to say. It’s easy to understand stories with words, that’s why we read.

Another way to tell a story is through movement. Growing up in dance, I’ve had to learn how to use my body movement and facial expressions to tell a story. Since there are no words in movement, other than song lyrics, the biggest issue is portraying your story successfully. It is common to have the movements lost in translation or misinterpreted. So what does successful storytelling through movement look like?

Dancing with the Stars. The majority of the pros on Dancing with the Stars work hard to choreograph dances that tell the stories of their celebrity partners. Storytelling through movement allows the celebrities to be able to connect with dance on an emotional level, while also allowing the audience to see the personal side of each celebrity competing.

Although all of the pros are talented in their own ways of storytelling through movement, I would argue that Derek Hough cracked the code. Derek Hough holds the record for the most Mirror Ball Wins on the show, having won six times. A pro turned judge, Derek Hough has learned how to tell a story through movement with each partner he is given.

Below are a few of my favorite dances he has choreographed that tell a story from beginning to end without a single word. The connection between him and his partners, the style of dance, the music and choreography all come together each and every time to create beautiful stories. Watch and learn to see how powerful storytelling through movement can be.

Derek and Hayley Hough – Dedication Night 2024

Derek and Hayley Hough performed “Beautiful Things” last week for Dedication Night. This dance is a tribute to Hayley’s health journey and the experience the couple went through following the diagnosis of a serious brain condition. This dance marks Hayley’s return to the ballroom. If you listen closely, you can hear details in the music that add to the overall story including the sounds of hospital machinery.

Derek Hough and Bindi Irwin – Most Memorable Year 2015

Derek and Bindi performed “Every Breath You Take” for the Most Memorable Year week in 2015. This video has the story attached to give the backstory of the dance and what it means for Bindi. If you choose to watch both the story and the dance, look for the little details of the dance that are mentioned in the story to see how the movements bring the story to life.

Derek and Julianne Hough – Special Performance 2017

Derek and Julianne Hough performed “Unsteady” as a special performance in 2017. It was the sequel to their “Elastic Heart” special performance the siblings danced to in 2015. While both dances tell stories of the pair’s childhood, Unsteady focuses on the impact of their parents’ divorce. The juxtaposition of the dancers with their “younger selves” reveals how the dancers are impacted by the experience to this day.

All three of these dances have been engraved in my brain since they first aired. I remember the songs and the movements as if I was recounting the plot of a storybook. Having a personal connection to dance and being an avid fan of Dancing with the Stars might make me a bit biased, but I believe the winners of the show are the ones capable of telling the story- adding life and emotion to the movements that would otherwise be plain and boring. How do you tell your story without words?

CLICK! Photo Festival Logo

CLICK! Photography Festival: My Journey From Exhibitor to Curator!

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This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

October is CLICK! Photography Festival month! What is CLICK! Photography Festival?

The CLICK! Photography Festival celebrates the medium of photography and its cultural influence by engaging in the photography community with exceptional photo-based works and artists. The month-long festival every October brings together photography lovers, exhibitions and programming while fostering dialogue between photographers and community members, all in hopes of inspiring artistic excellence, supporting professional development and promoting community engagement.

Lindsay Metivier introduced me to CLICK! Photography Festival last year. What started as an assignment, turned into an exhibition opportunity. Last october, our darkroom photography class took a trip to the NC State Fair to shoot rolls of film for an assignment. After developing the film, Lindsay encouraged us to submit our work to be the Carousel Slideshow, an exhibition hosted by Peel Gallery as part of the CLICK! Photography Festival. I submitted two images, both were selected to be featured and it was the first time my work was showcased outside of a class setting. I loved sharing my work with the public and seeing how it contributed to the overall vision of the gallery.

Two months later, in January of 2024, I started working for Peel Gallery. I learned the process of working on the other side of gallery exhibitions. Contributing to bringing a gallery exhibition to life was just as rewarding. Listening to artists’ stories, experiencing different forms of art and engaging with people from around the world changed how I viewed and valued art.

Ten months later, it is once again CLICK! Photography Festival month and it is now my turn to curate the gallery exhibition. In one year, my first gallery exhibition turned into my first curation. I am ecstatic to curate a photography exhibition under the same umbrella that my photography was first exhibited. I can’t wait to provide the same opportunity to new photographers that I received one short year ago.

This is my full circle moment.

Interested in showcasing your photography work? Learn more about my upcoming exhibition or submit your work below:

Peel Gallery Open Call

Submission Form

Other Click! Photography Festival events happening in Carrboro:

Bookshelf with books on the floor in front of it.

Read the Banned Book.

by HaileyLinkedInPosted on No Comments

This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

In elementary school, I often got in trouble for reading when I “wasn’t supposed to”. I experienced difficulty focusing in class, especially in the core subjects that did not interest me. When I lost interest in the topic of the day, I would pull out a book. There was so much to learn and with my “I can do it” attitude, if I was interested in learning it, I would do it myself.

Growing up, my parents always encouraged reading. We would go to library clean-out days, spend the $15 or $25 on a fill-the-bag option and head home with books piled to the brim. Those were my favorite days. I would come home with books that I didn’t know the title to, books that had nice cover art and books that the library was cleaning out by collection. I always wanted to have a personal library and library clean-outs were the best way to make it happen.

As I grew older, I learned about the banned books movement. Books were being censored in schools and libraries across the country. Some books made sense, containing offensive or otherwise inappropriate material for children, but other books were appropriate, simply containing ideas that a particular group did not agree with.

What started as a short list, has since multiplied into a list of thousands. Old books, new books, books that used to be required in high school curriculum, even childrens books, are now questioned and pulled from shelves every day. Once I discovered this, I learned that reading, especially reading accessibility, was a privilege. Accessing books now requires the ability to purchase them as variety and availability are limited. Expanding your education now comes at a price.

Some schools and libraries however, celebrate banned books week. Banned books week “highlights the value of free and open access to information and brings together the entire book community in shared support of the freedom to seek and to express ideas.” Books are displayed up front for check-out and readings of excerpts are held.

UNC held its “Freedom to Read” event on First Amendment Day, September 25th.

A few books featured include:

While not everyone may be interested in every book or might find some books inappropriate or deserving of challenge, the important thing is that we all have the freedom and privilege to read. We have access to more information than we have ever been able to imagine, why would we not take advantage of that and read as much as we can?

It’s all about education. Introducing yourself to different topics and perspectives, even if just for the value of understanding right and wrong. Some books depict issues with history, others introduce new ideologies and most are fictional stories.

Here is the list of the most challenged books since 1990. Take a second to look through and see the stories.

Top 10 Most Challenged Books and Frequently Challenged Books Archive

What is on your banned books list?

Pointe shoes on a rock in the river.

Your Hobbies Don’t Have to End After High School.

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This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

In college, education is stressed above all. Classes are mandatory, grades determine your future and a degree is everyone’s end goal. You meet someone new and, after asking for their name, there’s a 95% chance you’re immediately going to ask what their major is. It’s the natural flow of a college interaction. But that’s not how it once was.

In high school, it’s very rare to ask someone about the classes they’re in or their focus in electives. Most of the time, conversations containing the phrase, “What do you want to do after graduation?” don’t even begin to surface until junior or senior year. Before, the conversation focuses on hobbies and activities.

“What do you like to do for fun?”

“Do you play any sports?”

“Are you in any clubs or other extracurriculars?”

I’m sure you have all had to answer these questions at one point or another, even if it just came from your parents’ friends. So why does one identifier of your character slowly fade as a new one takes place?

My identifier is dance. I’ve spent 19 years of my life in a dance studio. Preschool changed to middle school and middle school changed to college, but dance has always been my constant. No matter what my week looked like, I always went to dance. A hobby became part of my identity. I could not let it go just because my life was transitioning after high school.

The summer before I started college, I looked into the dance organizations that UNC offered. I couldn’t just identify as a student and nothing else. I joined Blank Canvas Dance Company the first semester of my freshman year. Why does this matter?

  • I started off college with the same constant that had been there for every other stage of life. With all of the nerves and stress over starting a new chapter, it was the one thing I could count on to keep me sane.
  • I was surrounded by 200+ women who shared a common interest with me. It was the easiest way I found to make friends outside of class.
  • I became involved on-campus outside of the classroom. We had various performances and events around campus that helped me acclimate to this new world I was in.
  • I had a core group to turn to. The women I danced with were the same ones I was going to grab dinner with, hang out with and have a place to turn when I needed someone to talk to.
  • I had a “break” from college. I could focus on doing a hobby I loved while being able to separate it from all of the class and homework I had.
  • I was identified by something other than my major.

The last point was the biggest thing for me. We’re all in college to help educate and prepare us for a career. But we are all more than just our career. Our little interests and hobbies contribute far more to our personality and identity than our careers ever will. So why stop pursuing them after high school?

Many college campuses offer a wide variety of opportunities for students to keep doing what they love! And if they don’t? Start it yourself.

Keep pursuing your passion. You’re more than just a student.

Ferris Wheel and Sky Flyer at the State Fair

Photography: The Working Time Machine

by HaileyLinkedInPosted on No Comments

This article was originally published on linkedin.com.

With every click of the shutter, a moment is captured in time.

There’s something captivating about a camera. We all use them everyday. From smartphones, “2000’s digitals”, disposables or even photobooths, we’re constantly reaching to document the occasion. But why?

In a world filled with motion, photography makes you pause. Especially today, every. single. moment. is captured in photograph. Outfits of the day, a recent meal, world travels, pets in silly poses and every moment spent with friends (even the drunk ones) are all captured and 9/10 the pictures aren’t looked at again. So what is the purpose of taking an image in the first place?

It’s a personal time machine. You might not remember the picture that was taken when you went to lunch with your friends or the outfit that you wore to your best friend’s wedding, but the second it resurfaces, your brain is suddenly flooded with a million different emotions and memories of the day. All of a sudden, a simple picture, unlocks a moment in time. It was the last lunch you had before you moved to college and there was a sense of sadness from parting with your friends but a newfound excitement as you dream of what you could be. You sat at your hometown restaurant that you haven’t been back to in a few years and you can remember the layout, the food and the smell. It all happened then, but it comes to life now.

I started getting into photography my senior year of high school. I worked for a professional photographer on the side as a way to make a little extra cash on the side. I started on the post-production side, picking out the “best” images and editing them to be delivered to clients. I picked the images that I thought were the best, perfect smiles, nice angles and lighting. Images I thought were pristine that would be printed out, hung on walls and displayed for all to see. It wasn’t until after I got behind the camera that my mindset changed. The perfect image does not always create the perfect picture.

When I started interacting with the clients I was photographing, I focused on the moment. Pictures that I once would have discarded suddenly had new meaning. Couples with squinted eyes from laughing so hard at a joke, kids with silly expressions from just being kids even babies crying during newborn sessions all became the perfect picture. Because it wasn’t about capturing the “perfect” image, it was about capturing the moment. A moment you were celebrating with your partner, a moment a child unlocked a new emotion in their personality or a moment you chose to appreciate the creation of life, because tiny toes only stay tiny for so long. All of these “imperfect” moments are locked away in the time machine of a picture.

One day, the pictures will be released. You’ll tell your kids, “This was me when…”. You’ll come across photos you once hated and discover how much you really love them. You’ll find a bent polaroid or old picture once thumbtacked in your college dorm room. You’ll hop in your time machine and go back to “the time when”.

So where does your time machine take you?

As time has passed, I have developed a deeper appreciation for the art of photography. I’ve learned to not critique the physical image but to focus on the “big picture”. No matter my feelings captured in the moment, I have never regretted hopping back into my time machine.

Photography 1 class at the N.C. State Fair.
My time machine to the N.C. State Fair.