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Service Spotlight: Jackie Cecil ‘24 Advocates for Endometriosis Education & Treatment
St. Luke’s School senior Jackie Cecil is using her personal experience battling Stage III endometriosis to raise awareness, promote self-advocacy, and empower individuals affected by the disease.
Endometriosis is a chronic and often painful gynecological condition that affects millions of women; however, it frequently goes undiagnosed.
Jackie suffered from endometriosis for years until she uncovered resources on the Endometriosis Foundation of America (EndoFound) website that helped her self-diagnose the disease and advocate for treatment.
Her personal journey has fueled her commitment to advocate for others facing similar challenges. She got involved with the Endometriosis Foundation’s ENPOWR program, a youth-centered initiative focused on delivering endometriosis education and menstrual health resources to adolescents in grades nine through 12. Jackie recently delivered the ENPOWR curriculum to 250 students at a local high school in Westchester.
After volunteering at several of the Endometriosis Foundation's events and with its ENPOWR program, Jackie was asked to speak at the foundation’s 15th Annual Patient Conference, which is "designed to equip patients with all the tools and information they need to live their best lives with endometriosis."
Jackie shared her journey with the disease and advised patients of all ages on how to self-advocate and educate their teens on menstrual health.
Jackie believes in the power of education to bring about change. She emphasizes that having access to the ENPOWR program could have led to an earlier diagnosis, timely treatment, and a better quality of life with reduced pain. By sharing her story, she brings hope and support to those affected by endometriosis.
“If no one knows what the battle you're going through is, it becomes even more silent,” she said. “The goal of ENPOWR is to help others understand the symptoms of the disease to help with early intervention. I want to make sure that others have the option to seek treatment earlier.”
Jackie will attend Bryn Mawr College in the fall to study cognitive or political science, with the goal of pursuing a career in public health policy.
St. Luke’s School is a secular (non-religious), private school in New Canaan, CT for grades 5 through 12 serving over 35 towns in Connecticut and New York. Our exceptional academics and diverse co-educational community foster students’ intellectual and ethical development and prepare them for top colleges. St. Luke’s Leading with Humanity curriculum builds the commitment to serve and the confidence to lead.
