It was March of my senior year, just before spring break. Everything was perfect—I was on the home stretch of high school. That was until my dad's colonoscopy revealed a tumor in his colon. My parents told us they didn’t know if it was cancer and that they were waiting on tests. Somehow in that moment I knew that my dad had cancer, and that it was bad. News like this is absolutely earth-shattering, and yet, it's not the first time I heard bad news. A few years ago, a 9 cm aneurysm was found in my dad’s heart and everyone said that he should’ve already been dead. Post heart surgery, my dad’s recovery was rough but successful, and I thought the chances of something similarly dire were quite slim after that—but I was wrong. At first, my parents tried their hardest to stay optimistic, but I had heard that song and dance before. When the test results came back, it was confirmed: stage 4 colon cancer. It was spreading-the words hung in the air like smoke. I remember sitting in class during the last month of my senior year, unable to process. This wasn’t just a medical diagnosis; it was a threat to the foundation of our family. My dad, the man who taught me how to play basketball and tell a joke, now needed chemotherapy and surgery. Everything I knew changed overnight. My dad began treatment shortly after his diagnosis. I watched him go from a strong, active father to someone who had trouble walking around. The chemotherapy left him exhausted and in discomfort. There were days when he couldn’t get out of bed, when he couldn’t keep food down, when the pain showed in his eyes even if he tried to hide it with a smile. But through all of this, he never stopped fighting. He showed me what true strength looks like—not the kind that lifts heavy weights or runs marathons, but the kind that keeps going when every part of you wants to give up. At home, my role shifted too. I began helping out more—cooking meals, cleaning, making sure the house stayed running. But more than anything, I became an emotional support for my family. I learned how to listen, how to stay calm in the face of fear, how to carry others when they couldn’t carry themselves. It was a kind of growing up that no one prepares you for. Through this experience, I’ve learned that life can change in an instant. Cancer doesn't care about timing, age, or plans. But I’ve also learned that love, resilience, and hope are powerful things. My dad is still undergoing treatment, and every day is uncertain. But we face it together—one moment at a time. Most importantly, I’ve learned to value the present. I don’t take time with my loved ones for granted. I celebrate the small victories, like a good day of energy or a shared laugh at dinner. Cancer has affected my family deeply, but it has also brought us closer, and taught me the importance of compassion, responsibility, and staying rooted in what truly matters. This experience didn’t just impact my final year of high school—it reshaped my whole life. And while I wouldn’t wish it on anyone, I’m grateful for the lessons it taught me, and the strength it revealed in my family and myself.

The first obvious choice would be to add eleven, not just because of her immense power, but also because of her heart and her unbroken spirit. El is always in the mood for a good fight, even when she loses her powers, she still stands up for her friends and herself and she would do absolutely anything for them. I would also recruit Nancy because of how amazing she is and how she can think through any situation, no matter how crazy and stressful it gets. I would also have Dustin on my team. Dustin isn't just a smart mouth, he also has a smart head and he also thinks thorough plans and isn't afraid to say when he thinks the plan is stupid or won't work. Eleven, Nancy, and Dustin would all be on my dream team. From the relentlessness of Eleven, to the cunning of Nancy, to the smarts and common sense of Dustin, this team would absolutely destroy whoever they went up against. Something that is even better than their individual strengths is how they fight together. Nancy might get annoyed hanging out with all these younger kids, but she knows deep down that she loves them and will always fight for them and fight with them. Dustin might goof off occasionally but in the end, he knows how serious things are. Eleven will always fight with her family because she never leaves anyone behind.