While navigating through a cloud of decisions, choices and negotiations around her invisible disability, Cappel left no stone unturned. She says she learned to make even the smallest details a top priority — skills that she says eventually developed into her flair for leadership.
Instead of being hindered, her diagnosis provided the opportunity to educate others about the disability and encourage acceptance in the community.
As a University Honors Student and Marvin P. Kolodzik Business Scholar (KBS) in UC’s Carl H. Lindner College of Business — graduating this May with two bachelor’s degrees in marketing and accounting — Cappel has taken advantage of UC’s rich opportunities for studying abroad while pursuing academic excellence, one of the tenets of UC's Next Lives Here strategic direction.
“I knew the chance to experience life outside of Cincinnati and the United States would make me a better global citizen and a confident explorer through the world of business ventures,” says Cappel.
“Although tackling my food allergies overseas was going to be a little daunting, that didn’t mean I shouldn’t go."
Because of this experience, Cappel decided to create a resource that would help others understand the significance of traveling with a food allergy and how critical safe food prep is, so she started a blog.