Turning-Health-Challenges-into-Educational-Purpose.php

Turning Health Challenges into Educational Purpose

• Students
• 08/20/2025

By Audrey J. Brilinski

My name is Audrey J. Brilinski and I am a 2025 graduate of Rock Valley College. I attended RVC for almost three years and I recently completed my Applied Science degree in Business Administration. I chose RVC because of the amazing facility and community, and I was not disappointed.

During my time at RVC, I have had to overcome many challenges. Shortly after completing my second semester in the spring of 2023, my life changed forever. I woke up one morning with extreme vertigo, which impacted my ability to walk and stand. I became almost completely reliant on mobility aids to move around. I also started developing extreme migraines and fatigue. This left me unable to work, and I had to make the decision to drop my upcoming fall classes. It was not long before I was diagnosed with a condition called Chiari Malformation, which meant that the base of my skull was underdeveloped and too narrow. This malformation caused a herniation of my cerebellum, which is the part of the brain responsible for balance and coordination.

With the goal of relieving my major symptoms, I underwent brain surgery to have part of my skull removed. There was no guarantee the surgery would be successful, and there was a time when I was not sure if I would ever be able to continue my schooling. There was so much uncertainty in my life, but I knew God had a plan for me. My brain surgery came with a long, hard recovery, and despite still healing I was able to continue my education at RVC just four months after surgery. While I still live with some physical limitations and chronic migraines, the surgery did relieve most of my symptoms.

This time of my life was a season of difficulty, growth, and perseverance. I would not be the person I am today without these hard experiences, and without the support I received from my family and friends.

While I was a student at RVC, I became very involved in Student Life. I joined InterVarsity Christian Fellowship Club during my first semester, and I immediately felt welcomed into their amazing community. The friends that I made in those first semesters were an encouragement to me during my health struggles and made me realize how important it is to have a good support system.

During my last year at RVC, I joined InterVarsity’s student leadership team as club secretary. This was an amazing opportunity to be able to help grow this community and connect more with InterVarsity’s members, as well as other students and organizations on campus. I’m so glad I made the decision to join InterVarsity and be more involved with the student body. Through InterVarsity and the connections I made with people, I have made many lifelong friendships.

For my last two semesters at RVC, I worked as a student worker in the Student Life department. I often worked at the desk in the Student Life room and helped run events, which gave me the opportunity to interact with the many clubs and organizations on campus. The Student Life department, the staff, and other students were a very positive influence on my time at RVC.

When I first started at RVC I did not have any definite career goals. After experiencing a health decline, brain surgery, and lifelong physical limitations, what I want to use my life for became obvious. I want to use my health experiences and my story to help others who have faced similar challenges as me. This coming fall I will be attending Moody Bible Institute in Chicago to pursue a degree in ministry. I plan to use this degree to support people with chronic illness and disability. I will be using my existing business degree for general ministry management.

Looking back on my time at RVC, the time I spent there and the experiences I had shaped who I am as a person. My years at RVC have helped me determine both my career and life goals. The lessons I have learned and the memories I have made will stick with me for the rest of my life.