There is one thing I truly love in life. That one thing is looking at pretty things. You may think that sounds stupid or that there is a better way to word it, but that is truly what it is. One of my favorite things to do is watch sunsets and sunrises. I enjoy how […]
Survivorship is a word that elicits many emotions for me. after being diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma when I was 16 years old, I was confident I would beat this monster and not let it define who I am as an individual. Taking the reins, I charged into battle, never for one second allowing myself to […]
I was brought up in a Christian home with both my parents being actively involved in the church as either an elder and/or a deacon. My first Bible was a board-book Bible depicting the life of Jesus. Sunday school was the norm for all of my family members and small group Bible study was on […]
Cancer needs to be cured. Enough is enough. Everyone is touched by this ageless disease at some point in their life, whether it is their parent, sibling, child, friend, or self. For me, it was when I was three-years-old, and my cancer stole almost all of my vision, permanently. Curing cancer does not seem to […]
Suddenly I stopped on a page when I was flipping through my history textbook. Transfixed by a photo of concentration camp survivors recently, rescued, I studied the image closely. They were all weak from malnourishment and you could see their ribs. Many had cuts and scars from forced labor or abuse. All their heads were […]
My experience battling cancer has driven me to help others. I wish to be selfless as those who have helped me, and I want to help others in similar situations, by sharing my story and aiding in fundraising efforts. I believe a major influence on my wish to help others, has been others helping […]
No matter what age you are or where you’re from, you understand hunger. That rumbling in your belly, the weakness in your stance, it is all an indication of need. Need so primitive that even children can understand it yet so potent that it can fell the strongest of adults. It hurts, the emptiness, […]
I have led a blessed life with a variety of achievements, including sports victories, leadership honors, even a 4-H Poultry and Bike Rodeo Championship! I play both the saxophone, electric and upright bass, run on the Varsity Cross Country and Track teams, and have been Co-Captain of the Wrestling team for the last two […]
The career I am pursuing is Classical Vocal Performance, which I hope will lead me to a career as an opera singer. I have been working towards this career since I was 11 years old, when I first started taking voice lessons. I had to drive an hour each way to Franconia, New Hampshire […]
2011. I was nine. Life was fun. Ballet, gymnastics, ice skating – an activity everyday of the week. My right leg began swelling gradually. In a month it was twice its normal size. Tennis was first to go: then hip-hop. Soon, doctor appointments ran my life. Consultations. Tests. Biopsies. Then more consultations, tests, and […]