Since I was a child, family has always been stressed as the most important thing in life. I have been taught to tend and take care of my family as they tend and take care of me. I have an amazing family, both on my mothers and fathers side. I am surrounded by passionate, hardworking, loving individuals that I am so lucky to call aunts, cousins, and friends. This relationship that I have with my family allows me to prosper in all other areas of life. Having a support system like the one that I do allows me to do so many things in life that I am extremely privileged to experience. My mom's only sister was my Aunt Debbie. She gifted me four amazing cousins, of which I have swam with, baked cookies at my Grandma's house with, and grown up with while being surrounded by all the love in the world. My Aunt Debbie is a ray of light. She raised four amazing children while working full time and tending to the house. She supported every single person in our family and was always helping out within her community and her children's schools. She was an amazing sister to my beautiful mother and made sure that all of my siblings and my other cousins knew how loved we were. Unfortunately, on March 5th, 2021, she had passed away after fighting breast cancer for six years. It had first come as a huge surprise, my whole family thrown off as cancer did not run in our family. She had bravely fought it and persevered through treatments and procedures. She was cancer free four times. However, five times it had come back. Her body was so worn down after the fifth time- mentally, physically, and emotionally. My family had spent five Christmas' praying for positive health in our family and well wishes amongst everyone. I was able to visit with her the morning before she passed. I went with my mother and we hugged her and cried with her. She was still slightly conscious at this point in the morning and kept muttering "Neil Diamond" every once in a while. He was her favorite singer and she played one of his songs at her wedding with my uncle. She passed away peacefully being surrounded by her husband and Neil Diamond on the speakers in her room. As you may be able to tell, I'm very close with all of my family. Not to say we are perfect. I have had more fights with my cousins than I can remember. But, what makes us good is that we always come back stronger.. Following March of 2021, a lot of us were lost and struggling. I was in my sophomore year of college and I found it very hard to concentrate. I was struggling with managing a schedule between visiting with my cousins and family members and being present in my studies. It seemed like an impossible task and one that did not even seem worth my time. It was not until the following semester, August of 2021, when my grandparents sat me down. We had talked and they knew how effected I was with the loss in our family. They reminded me of how much my Aunt Debbie loved education and learning and how hard she would push all of us to receive higher education to be able to go as far as we can in life. They reminded me that she is always with us, and that I needed to make her proud. I dedicated myself to making her proud.

My favorite thing about Disney are the decorations that are put up around the parks between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. I have been to Disney parks 17 times in my 21 years of life. My grandparents, parents, and myself love the Disney parks and what they mean to our family. I have gone multiple times a year for a couple of years but my family's favorite time to visit the parks is during the Thanksgiving holiday season. I remembered seeing the large Christmas tree decorated in ornaments and stars and fluff and I fell in love with the feeling of celebrating that time with my family. Being from Ohio, the travel to Disney takes some time and planning and it all becomes worth it when I step into the parks with my family and see all of the decorations that line the walkways and restaurants and the different ways that Disney lets their guests celebrate. It makes me feel as though Disney is my home away from home and allows me to really enjoy celebrating holidays while I am away from home. I have such fond memories of the first time I can remember going to Disney with my cousins and the first time that I was able to bring a friend with me. Again we went during the holiday season, right around Thanksgiving. It was such a joy to see my cousins and my friend be able to see the spirits and celebration that has meant so much to me. The hotel that we were staying at, on Disney property, had another large Christmas tree and many festivities around the rooms and lobby and it was my favorite Disney memory and I know that it meant so much for my friend to be able to experience that while we were away from home. Disney has become a second home to me which allows me to celebrate and spend time with my friends and family while being able to ride and experience a park that I love. I am so grateful for the dedication and love that Disney pours into their celebrations that allows myself and other families to have those special feelings and creates the feeling of love at every Disney park. I will be continuing the tradition even as I am growing older, and continue to celebrate my holidays at Disney parks surrounded by those who love me and being able to relish in the holiday feeling.