Lillie Brooks

Preparing for University

#CouldItBeCeliac

My gluten-free journey began unexpectedly during a family vacation to Disneyland my freshman year of high school. I remember grabbing a burger at one of the restaurants in the park, excited to dig in after a long day of rides and walking. Not long after eating, my stomach started to turn, and I felt incredibly nauseous. At first, I brushed it off as just greasy food not sitting right. But later that evening, I had another meal that contained gluten, and my symptoms hit even harder. That was the moment I realized something more serious was going on. Since that trip, I’ve been gluten-free, and it’s changed how I navigate everything—from daily meals to special events.

As more people begin to discover their own intolerances, the world is slowly becoming more gluten-aware, but it’s still far from perfect. Walking into a restaurant and seeing a “gluten-free” option can be a relief, but there’s always that lingering fear… Was it prepared on a clean surface? Did someone use the same knife or toaster as they did for regular bread? The reactions I have to gluten aren’t mild or manageable, they’re intense and debilitating. I get so sick I feel like I’m going to throw up for hours, my stomach cramps until I can barely move, and the exhaustion that follows makes it hard to think straight. Many people don’t realize how severe gluten intolerance can be because they don’t see what happens after the meal ends.

— Lillie Brooks, Preparing for University

What Makes This Harder Is That It Isn’t Always Visible

People can’t see my body reacting from the inside, so sometimes they assume I’m being dramatic or overly picky. But I know the cost of eating even a small trace of gluten and it’s never worth it. I’ve had to become hyper-aware of every ingredient, every sauce, and every crumb. It’s exhausting, especially when others don’t fully understand. I’ve learned to advocate for myself, but it’s scary to live in a world where one wrong bite can ruin my entire day or week.

Now, as I prepare to go to college out of state—moving from my small hometown to the beautiful Santa Clara University in California—those fears are even louder. While I’m beyond excited for this new chapter, I can’t help but worry about leaving behind the community that understands my dietary needs. In my hometown, people know me, and they know to be careful. At college, I’ll be a stranger. Will the dining staff clean their surfaces properly? Will I find safe options? Will I always have to explain myself and cross my fingers that nothing gets mixed up? It’s a dream come true to attend SCU, but living with gluten intolerance means I’m stepping into that dream with caution..

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