Scholarships

Diagnosed with: AML Leukemia | Course of study: Nursing at New York University

My experience with cancer completely reshaped my perspective on life. At just sixteen, I was faced with a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia, which was an unexpected pause to my dreams and high school years. I quickly learned that life is fragile and that time is precious. Despite the pain, isolation, and uncertainty, cancer gave me a newfound purpose. It taught meresilience, gratitude, and the power of advocacy. I no longer take the little things for granted, and I’ve made it my mission to help others find light in their darkest moments.

This journey not only influenced my mindset but also solidified my desire to become a pediatric oncology nurse. My passion for helping others through their hardest days drives me to further my education. I want to be the person who understands both the medical and emotional needs of young patients, as someone who’s been on both sides of the hospital bed. Even after relapsing at seventeen, I stayed focused on my goals, working on college applications and continuing to run my nonprofit from my hospital bed.

Education is not just a path forward for me, it’s a promise to the person I was when I was sick: that I will turn my pain into purpose.

To give back, I’ve been actively involved in multiple cancer organizations. I founded Project Cloud 9 during remission to support teenage cancer patients. Through designing and selling phone charms, I raised over $2,000 to fund custom gift baskets for teens in hospitals and donated to the OHSU Knight Cancer Institute. I also volunteered on the oncology floor at Providence St. Vincent Hospital, using my story and presence to uplift patients during treatment. Additionally, I was invited to speak at OHSU’s medical school course Living with a Life-Threatening Illness, where I shared my journey and advocated for the emotional needs of pediatric patients with future doctors. Each of these roles has deepened my understanding of what true care means, and strengthened my resolve to be that source of comfort and hope for others.

Diagnosed with: Grade 2 Astrocytoma and Low Grade Gliomas | Course of study: Business and Sports Administration at Gonzaga University

The humbling realization of my mortality led me to where I am today: daughter, lover, debate captain, even manager. Roles that show the desire I have to excel for those that have supported me to continue to better myself through things like my education. After all, if there’s one thing I’ve learned it’s that heat and pressure makes diamonds.

As someone who worked with speech therapists till I was 5 due to cancer-induced hydrocephalus, I realized that the world wasn’t built for people that have a different approach to its norms, its habits and stereotypes. No matter how far I seemed to get away from that young 5 – year old girl, the world always wanted to condemn people for their success, condemn them for making it, as a woman and as a survivor. To put it plain and simple my goals have never been created to spite cancer, but to spite the people that seek to make the world impossible for those that have had it, a determination that won’t allow for one track minded people to control the narrative of the unstoppable life I am going to lead.

Since my diagnosis in 2007, I have been closely connected to Candlelighters. As I’ve gotten older my role in the organization shifted but from not only being a member and participant but a contributor as well. Giving back to the people that had made our life so incredibly light when it was feeling dark was important to me.

Since my diagnosis in 2007, I have been closely connected to the Candlelighters organization – specifically the chapter in Eugene Oregon. I began going to many of the monthly events offered like the Christmas events, Easter events and more. Relay for life and getting to walk for the candlelighters group was always a part of me and my family’s summer as well. It helped to shape our awareness surrounding people affected by brain cancer, it helped shape our sense of community in a world that doesn’t offer that much to people who have gone through what we had. As I’ve gotten older my role in the organization shifted but from not only being a member and participant but a contributor as well.

Diagnosed with: Wilms Tumor | Course of study: Biology at Washington State University

I power through and persevere because I know I have been given the chance to not only succeed in life, but to excel. My past has taught me that science can unlock even greater potential. I am optimistic because I have witnessed my own hope and that of those that have supported me for so many years. Simply put, I am dedicated to scientific discovery and helping others. That is why I volunteer. A lot. I dedicate myself to the service of my community. I received so much help when I was in treatment that I feel it imperative to help others along on this journey as well. I was given so much in our time of need, including support and friendship. This was invaluable to my family and me when I was in a health crisis and why it is so important I continue to do what I can for others.

Since having cancer twice at a young age, I became interested in cells at the molecular level and what can make them go wrong – is it genetics or environment or what? I am going into Biology to explore, and, just maybe, be able to help people in the future. I will get my BS in Molecular Biology and then continue my education, obtaining a Ph.D. in Epigenetics. Afterward, armed with my PhD, my plan is to spend time working on research and development in biotechnology, genomic sequencing, DNA selection and the understanding of epigenetics.

Going through cancer twice at a young age really changed how I see things. It made me realize how important it is to grab hold of what matters to you and go for it. For me, that’s understanding how our bodies work and how things can go wrong at the tiniest level – our cells.

Since 2012, I have been involved, in some way, with Candlelighters! I have attended so many activities, from snowmobiling to fishing to the Pumpkin Patch to Family Camp! Each event was important to me at that point in my life of survivorship. Not feeling weird/out of place/bald/sick/in pain was critical to my mental health as a young child. I have attended many family camps, starting out as a patient in treatment through my young teen years and finally being able to volunteer at Family Camp. Candlelighters, and supporting Candlelighters (even anonymously) has been very important to me and a big part of my cancer and survivorship journey.

Diagnosed with: Diffuse Pediatric High Grade Glioma | Course of study: Art at Portland Community College

My experience with cancer has been terrifying but has also helped me realize so many things about life. First is how quickly anyone’s life can change. Things can go from good to bad, or bad to worse SO quickly. Also, being in and out of so many hospitals has shown me that there are many other people in even worse situations than myself. So many people need help and are not well supported or connected to it. I also pay a lot more attention to how I spend my time and I realize the people in my life are now more important to me than ever before. Most of all having cancer has taught me not to underestimate my own strength and I really just want to tell other people struggling not to ever give up on themselves.

College has really helped me realize that there is a whole world of ideas and subjects to study and things to be involved with out there. I really want to find things to do with my life that make me happy.
I really love learning new things and thinking about ideas. I am figuring out a lot about my own beliefs and I think my education will help me to be better at helping others whenever I am able to.

After fighting so hard and coming this far, I owe it to myself to move ahead. At least for today, the effects of cancer won’t stop me.

Pursuing my goals is critical for me each and every day. I can’t let cancer stop me from trying to live. My life is no longer “normal” by any stretch of imagination, but as long as I can live I want to try for a normal life. After fighting so hard and coming this far, I owe it to myself to move ahead. At least for today, the effects of cancer won’t stop me.

Diagnosed with: High Risk Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia | Course of study: Undecided at University of Oregon

When I was 15 months old, I was diagnosed with leukemia, a form of blood cancer. I don’t have many memories of what happened during my treatment, but I do remember not knowing that going to the doctors that often wasn’t normal. To me, it was just something that everyone did. If I had cancer now, I would probably be terrified, each day a potential uncertainty. It wouldn’t have been some assignment that I could figure out on my own, but rather something that I would need a lot of help with. Looking back, I now realize how much I needed the help of others. The support of my family, the doctors, nurses, and researchers working to save me. Without that group or even one party, I wouldn’t be alive today.

I want to have fun in life, to LIVE life, and to be able to look back and be able to know that I fulfilled my dreams. When I was a kid, I loved LEGOs. I built non-stop and played non-stop. It was probably my favorite thing to do and still is. It helps me take my mind off things, and I also just like piecing things together. So, as I grew older, I tried figuring out what I wanted to do in life, and one of the things that was a constant in my life was my love for LEGO. When I started to search for careers and think about my next steps in life, I realized that I might want to design them. It sounded really fun, and why should I not try to have fun?

We only get so much time here on this planet, and that is scary. Every day is a chunk of our life that we could be doing something that we love. I want to make sure that I enjoy each of those days.

Naturally, that means that I need to push and strive to achieve my goals so I can live my life to the fullest.

Diagnosed with: Brain Tumor | Course of study: Nursing at Linfield University

I am naturally slow at learning and performing most tasks and the long-term side effects from my treatment make performing everyday tasks even more challenging. Before my diagnosis, I was very reserved which unable me to reach out for help. This caused me to develop immense anxiety about my constant failures and unsure future. After my treatment however, I uncovered a side of me that I never knew existed. Having gone through these profoundly traumatizing experiences gave me the courage to advocate for myself and a renewed sense of purpose.

Every time I encounter a strenuous conflict in my life that previously caused me immense anxiousness such as academic failure or any general life inconveniences. I recall the prolonged nights I spent in the thinly cushioned hospital bed, holding a barf bag to my mouth, vomiting watery fluid, with a PICC line dangling from my arm connected to a bag flowing chemo to my body, along with the intense headache from the shunt implanted in my brain. This gives me the motive to continue and not let the trauma of my past drag me down from reaching my milestones. Cancer is part of my past however I am still here attending a university, have a 3.8 GPA, can drive a car, and can perform various other activities I once thought I would be unable to.

Although I have to put in twice the work as most others, I have gone through twice as much as most others as well, which allows me to not tarnish my self-esteem and search for help when needed.

I believe that due to these agonizing experiences, I can provide a unique perspective to the medical field as a nurse, because I comprehend and have substantial empathy for those going through these types of distressing situations. I also symbolize a sign of hope for people with health complications who are concerned about their future, which I hope will motivate them to continue battling through grueling procedures. Additionally, I not only want to help others with health problems but also the Latino community by providing healthcare in their native language and creating a comfortable environment for those who feel isolated in a foreign country. Many individuals don’t seek healthcare because of language barriers or discrimination towards their ethnicity. I plan to break that barrier and extend my hand to other Hispanic families in need of adequate healthcare treatment. The first step to achieving these milestones is focusing on completing my post- secondary education using my cancer story as fuel to be a compassionate and skilled Nurse.