The most consistent memories I have throughout my childhood are those of my dad. His silly exclamations, the way he would throw me in the pool, the joy of him picking me up from the airport or pulling me out of school for a special daddy-daughter birthday lunch. My dad was always there to support me, standing proudly with a camera and a bouquet of flowers so that I could take the spotlight for me accomplishments. Those memories are golden to me, but each year as my dad got more sick, I would make less of them, and he would struggle to get through each day without knowing what was wrong. Two months into my first year of college, and my dad had been through one of his worst years; every day seemed to be harder for him. That was when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer, already spread through half his body. It was almost a relief, to finally know why he never seemed to get any better, but it was devastating news that scared me more than anything ever had. I have wonderful parents who did everything they could to negate this impact to my first year of college, but it changed everything, nevertheless. Where I was previously a straight A student, all of the sudden I was holding a C average because I would spend so much time between home and hospitals. Helping to take care of my father and cherishing the last three months I had with him were all I cared about. I realized how important those moments were and knew that I could always come back to school or my friends, but I could never get more time with my dad. I now know how entirely a diagnosis can upheave my life. Everywhere I look, there is something that I have fallen behind in or completely given up to care for my family. I do not regret the time I spent away from school, but I did lose one of my scholarships due to lack of attendance and a slip in my gpa. The goals I had of joining clubs, finding internships, and travelling the state all became seemingly impossible when I could barely even get through the stress my stem homework without descending into a panic attack. With the loss of my dad, I am the only family my mother has to rely on, and I have had to fill the role of her confidant, business partner, and daughter, on top of my responsibilities towards school, scholarships and my own grief. It is a balance that I have barely been able to maintain, but I am determined to earn my bachelor's and fulfill the dreams my father had for me. It has only been a few months since my dad died, my family is still figuring out our world without him, but I starting to become the student I once was again. After months of my focus being anywhere but academics, I am starting to create new goals and double down on my education. I only need some help to cover the last bit of the cost of college, and I will have everything I need to continue making my dad proud.

The most consistent memories I have throughout my childhood are those of my dad. His silly exclamations, the way he would throw me in the pool, the joy of him picking me up from the airport or pulling me out of school for a special daddy-daughter birthday lunch. My dad was always there to support me, standing proudly with a camera and a bouquet of flowers so that I could take the spotlight for me accomplishments. Those memories are golden to me, but each year as my dad got more sick, I would make less of them, and he would struggle to get through each day without knowing what was wrong. Two months into my first year of college, and my dad had been through one of his worst years; every day seemed to be harder for him. That was when he was diagnosed with stage four cancer, already spread through half his body. It was almost a relief, to finally know why he never seemed to get any better, but it was devastating news that scared me more than anything ever had. I have wonderful parents who did everything they could to negate this impact to my first year of college, but it changed everything, nevertheless. Where I was previously a straight A student, all of the sudden I was holding a C average because I would spend so much time between home and hospitals. Helping to take care of my father and cherishing the last three months I had with him were all I cared about. I do not regret the time I spent away from school, but I did lose one of my scholarships due to lack of attendance and a slip in my gpa. The goals I had of joining clubs, finding internships, and travelling the state all became seemingly impossible when I could barely even get through the stress my stem homework without descending into a panic attack. With the loss of my dad, I am the only family my mother has to rely on, and I have had to fill the role of her confidant, business partner, and daughter, on top of my responsibilities towards school, scholarships and my own grief. It is a balance that I have barely been able to maintain, but I am determined to earn my bachelor's and fulfill the dreams my father had for me. It has only been a few months since my dad died, my family is still figuring out our world without him, but I starting to become the student I once was again. After months of my focus being anywhere but academics, I am starting to create new goals and double down on my education. I only need some help to cover the last bit of the cost of college, and I will have everything I need to continue making my dad proud.