Living with a rheumatic disease shapes your experiences in unique ways, but knowing how to communicate those experiences in an application isn’t always easy. Join Cassie + Friends for this workshop called: Telling Your Story: Workshop on Writing Effective Applications, where you will learn practical tips for strengthening university, college, vocational program, scholarship, volunteer, and job applications. This session will be led by Ciara Mahaffy, an experienced application writer who has been awarded over $80,000 in scholarships, graduated as Valedictorian from the University of Toronto, and went on to complete her Master’s degree at the University of Cambridge. Ciara will share practical strategies for telling your story authentically, highlighting your strengths, and creating applications that stand out.
Meet Our Speaker
Ciara Mahaffy
Cassie + Friends Youth Mentor + Application Expert
Ciara Mahaffy has been a long-standing supporter of Cassie + Friends. Ciara got involved in Cassie + Friends Youth Programming in 2020, shortly after her JIA diagnosis. Since then, she has fundraised through Team Cassie + Friends, served as a Youth Mentor and Ambassador, and even worked at Cassie + Friends for three summers during her undergrad. Ciara completed her undergrad at the University of Toronto, where she specialized in English Literature, and recently graduated from the University of Cambridge, where she completed a Master’s degree in English Literature. Ciara has extensive experience writing effective applications for both academia and scholarship programs, winning over $85,000 in scholarships in her undergrad alone. She has also sat on the other side of the table and assessed such applications, which has given her a strong understanding of how these applications are assessed and how an application can be constructed to have the best chance at success. Ciara is passionate about sharing what she has learned and helping young people recognize the value of their own experiences and confidently tell their stories through applications
Hosting Our Session
Danica Moschenross
Youth Engagement Coordinator, Cassie + Friends
As the Youth Engagement Coordinator at Cassie + Friends and a current Master of Management student at the University of British Columbia, Danica brings together her experience navigating university, graduate school, and the many, many applications that come along the way, with her work at Cassie + Friends and her own lived experience with juvenile arthritis. Now in her second year hosting this workshop, she brings both her personal and professional experiences to Telling YOUR Story. Through her work at Cassie + Friends, Danica works to ensure youth voices are heard, empowered, and engaged through connection and education.
Danielle Harrison
Manager, Programs + Partnerships, Cassie + Friends
As the Manager of Programs + Partnerships at Cassie + Friends, Danielle leverages a decade of experience delivering and leading programs for those managing chronic pain and health conditions. Having navigated her own chronic illness in her youth, she is deeply committed to delivering impactful programs that empower others. When she isn’t working to drive meaningful change, Danielle enjoys spending time with her two children and relaxing with a good book.
