Bridgewater makes it easy to feel welcome. I’ve changed so much as a person being here. … I’ve never felt alone, which is a lot of people’s fear.
When college students say they are exhausted, people might assume it’s from all that late-night studying. For Emma Pereira, ’28, feeling very tired is a symptom of a neurological disorder.
Emma has narcolepsy, which affects the brain's ability to regulate sleep-wake cycles and causes brief episodes of muscle weakness called cataplexy. While she worries people might perceive her as lazy, she’s found an understanding and supportive community of faculty, staff and peers at BSU.
“Bridgewater makes it easy to feel welcome,” said the first-year political science major from Middleboro. “I’ve changed so much as a person being here. … I’ve never felt alone, which is a lot of people’s fear.”
Narcolepsy causes people to go into a deep sleep such that it is harder to wake up. Paradoxically, the more they sleep, the more tired they become. They may also unwillingly fall asleep in public locations such as a classroom.
Emma knew something was wrong in high school when she often slept 13 hours a day yet was still exhausted. After doctor’s visits and a sleep study, Emma received a diagnosis during her senior year.
“It was like we finally got answers, but it also opened up a lot of questions,” she said.
That uncertainty included how Emma would adjust to college. But she realized she had nothing to fear at BSU after meeting with staff in Student Accessibility Services. They showed a genuine interest in her as a person and talked about the ways they could help her have a successful college experience.
“Before they even asked for paperwork or legal things, they asked me about myself and navigating life with narcolepsy and cataplexy,” she said. “They were so happy to help, which was refreshing.”
Emma lives on campus, which she said makes it easier than back in high school to get to class if she oversleeps. Having fewer classes each day also helps, and professors are very understanding and accommodating if, for example, she is late to a class.
At BSU, Emma has made many friends who she said are completely accepting of her. If she naps after class, her roommate even makes sure to wake her up for dinner. She is a member of the Honors Program, plays on an intramural volleyball team, and attends Caribbean Ancestry Student Association events – all while making the fall dean’s list.
“I’m really thankful I was given the opportunity to do my best here,” she said. “I feel supported.”
Emma, who received the Jack & Julie Narcolepsy Scholarship from the nonprofit Project Sleep, aims to become a professor. One day, she may even pay it forward by supporting other students who are diagnosed with narcolepsy.
“Absolutely, don’t be afraid your narcolepsy is going to get in the way of anything,” she said of her advice for others. “There’s so much we want to do.”
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