What Jennifer Stone Has Been Up To Since Wizards Of Waverly Place

While most are familiar with what Wizards of Waverly Place star Selena Gomez has been up to since the popular Disney show ended in 2012, it turns out that co-star Jennifer Stone has been working to create some real-life magic of her own. In April 2020, Stone, who played best friend Harper Finkle to Gomez's Alex Russo on the Disney channel comedy, announced she was joining the front lines in the fight against the coronavirus. 

"A very good friend of mine (@maiarawalsh) pointed out to me that today is #worldhealthday," she wrote on Instagram. "It is also the day I went from a volunteer, then a student nurse, and now an RN resident. I just hope to live up to all of the amazing healthcare providers on the front lines now as I get ready to join them." Stone graduated in December 2019, according to another Instagram post, and has now joined others who are dedicated to conquering this deadly disease.

Stone posted another Covid-19 update as she encouraged followers to wear face masks and thanked them for their continued support. "Why am I giving a thumbs up like a lame uncle? Because I'm wearing a mask to flatten the curve, you can't see me smiling out of gratitude for hitting 300,000 followers!" the Disney alum wrote. "Thank you guys for all of your love and support!" No, thank you for your service!

Jennifer Stone was just 20 years old, she was diagnosed with type 1 diabetes. "I couldn't read street signs. I couldn't see your face if you were right in front of me. I knew something was wrong," Stone told Beyond Type 1. Her diagnosis ultimately influenced her decision to pursue nursing. "More than learning the semantics of beta-cells and autoimmune disorders .. I wanted to understand my body and the impact of Type 1."

When it comes to sharing her struggles with fans, Stone says former co-star Selena Gomez — who's been incredibly open about her own health battles —inspired her to share her story. "It always inspires me the way people are transparent about the challenges and the things they face in their life," Stone told the International Business Times in 2017. "I feel with social media, and the digital age we live in, I feel like everyone is used to sharing their highlight reel rather than the difficult things we go through."

Now, Stone wants to "fill that void" in the entertainment industry and teach others that diabetes doesn't have to hold you back. "Speaking up can help so many people, and they need to know they aren't alone, and it can happen to anyone," she told Beyond Type 1. "I know how ignorant I was when I was first diagnosed; I want to help the world know more about the disease."

From educating others about diabetes to stepping up to fight the coronavirus, it's clear that Stone has a heart of gold.