I can honestly say that most of my life has been a challenge. When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. The fun and carefree life that I once knew came to an abrupt stop. I endured over 3 years of extremely difficult treatment and am happy to say that I am now a survivor. However, the side effects of the medications I received left me weak, uncoordinated and I had difficulty learning. I have worked very hard to get to the level that I am at today. During high school, I joined cross country running and my coach was a great motivator. For me, the best part of running was the feeling of freedom. Being outside in the fresh air with absolutely nothing holding you back is a gift that not all children are awarded. I spent many years trapped inside a hospital room on isolation. The chemotherapy left me very immunosuppressed so visitors were not allowed inside. When I was home, I could barely get up out of my bed. I just wanted to be a normal kid and I knew that it was going to be difficult, but I’m happy to say that I did it. From that terrible experience, I did learn the importance of volunteering and spreading awareness about leukemia. I was the Boy of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society, participate in their Light the Night program and am one of the faces for their Pennies for Patients campaign. I am committed to raising money to help find a cure for leukemia so that other children and adults do not have to suffer. I know that I am one of the lucky ones and I have made physical fitness a top priority in my life. I work out at a gym every single day and am stronger than I ever thought possible. I practice mixed martial arts and played varsity football this year. When I go for my yearly oncology checkup, the doctors and nurses cannot believe how physically fit I am. They can barely believe that I am the same person that they once knew. I am now a high school senior. I am on the principal’s list taking multiple college and advanced placement courses. I have been accepted to all the schools that I applied to and cannot wait to see what the future holds for me.

I was a pretty average kid, eating chicken nuggets and French fries a few times a week. Then, all of a sudden, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Everything stable in life was turned upside down. When I almost lost my life to illness, I realized that I have one single body and I better treat it right. During the over 3 years of treatments, people sent me candy and sweets that I was more than happy to eat. I was put on high dose steroids that left me feeling hungry even after a full meal. I gained a ton of weight and could barely get up out of bed. I was physically unable to play sports or perform any type of activities. Every other kid was joining sports teams and I was in the hospital. I longed for so many years to be able to play sports and it was an uphill battle, but I finally did it. My coordination was thrown off by the chemotherapy but I tried every single day to get stronger. I joined a gym and work on a different body part each day. The amount of weight that I lift consistently grows and I am always looking for new ways to gain muscle. I’ve also been practicing mixed martial arts which has given me discipline and focus. My eating habits have also changed immensely. I completely stopped drinking juice and only drink water now. I finish a gallon of water every day and have learned to love it. I have also increased my consumption of protein, fruits, and vegetables. I always try to eat something healthy before going out because I know the food options at a restaurant are usually expensive and not good for me. I transformed my body into a very strong and fit machine. I love being confident in myself and not being afraid to try new activities. I played varsity football this year and loved being part of a team. I work a very physical job at a car wash on the weekends and have been saving up for college. My journey to get here has been a long one. I cannot believe that in the in the fall, I will be entering college where I will continue to improve my body and mind. I appreciate your time in reading my story and hope to win this very generous scholarship.

Eating healthy is important to me because I look better and feel better after eating a nutritious meal. It gives me energy which also helps me sleep well at night. Greasy foods weigh me down and make me so tired. When I have no energy, I find myself getting depressed. I definitely want to live a healthy lifestyle because I know first hand that your life can be taken away at any moment. When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I endured over 3 years of treatment which included chemotherapy, steroids, blood transfusions and other torture that I do not want to relive. I was weak and tired all the time. I was unable to play sports or even run around with other kids. I can honestly say that it was the worst time of my entire life. Once my treatments were completed, I knew I had a long road ahead of me. I gained an excessive amount of weight due to the side effects of the medication and could barely move. I did not want this type of life. Eventually, I realized that diet and exercise go hand in hand. I met with a nutritionist and figured out a healthy eating plan for my new lifestyle. The only thing I drink is water. I consume at least a gallon of water every day. I also avoid sweet stuff unless I’m at a party or it’s a holiday. Protein, fresh fruits and vegetables are my absolute favorite. Unfortunately, when I’m out and about, these options are scarce and expensive. Therefore, I bring my own water and protein bars wherever I go. Eating fried foods not only hurts me physically, but it clouds my mind too. I have now been in remission since 2014 and you would never know that I was once a cancer patient. My mind is clear and I am taking college and advanced placement classes. I played varsity football this year, and loved being a part of a team. I work out at a gym and practice mixed martial arts in my free time. Eating healthy is a way of life. Having minimal body fat keeps me active and focused. My future goal is to obtain a bachelor’s degree in engineering and my healthy lifestyle will definitely keep me on track. After beating cancer, I know how important my body is and I will never stop trying to improve it.

I truly believe that certain people are born with the ability to understand math, where others struggle to learn it. Thankfully, I am one of the lucky few who get it. I completed pre-calculus last year and am currently taking college calculus. I am not going to lie, it’s a very challenging course, but I love it. I use math at my job to give customers change and because I’m quick at it, the time passes quickly. I work part-time on the weekends at a car wash. I handle money when ringing up the customers and my boss trusts me and my math skills. I am also the guy who figures out how much tip to leave whenever we go out. You would be surprised at how few people can figure out percentages. My future goal is to become an engineer and find ways to make the world a better place. I will be working towards obtaining a bachelor’s degree at SUNY Maritime this fall. Winning this scholarship will definitely help to get me there. Math plays a huge part in the things that we do everyday. I have always enjoyed figuring out problems, and that is why I love math.

I am a high school senior who is ready to take on the world. This scholarship will help me to pay for college tuition where I will obtain a bachelor’s degree in engineering. My life started out much different than an average kid. When I was only six years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. I endured over three years of tortuous treatments which left me as a shell of a child. I missed out on going to school, making friends, playing sports and basic every day life. I was bald and weak and wasn’t sure if I was even going to make it. Luckily, once the treatment was over, I was able to attempt living like a normal kid. Don’t get me wrong, I had to work hard every single day to make myself strong. It was definitely an uphill battle but I’m here, today, to tell you that I did it. I am currently on the principal’s list and am taking college and advanced placement courses. I played varsity football this year and loved every minute of being on a team. I am also on a deck hockey league with a bunch of friends. Physical fitness is also a huge part of my life and allows me to release stress. Weight lifting and mixed martial arts help keep me disciplined and focused. I have always had a difficult time fitting in and that is why I decided to raise awareness about pediatric cancer. I was the Boy of the Year for the Leukemia Lymphoma Society and I am the face of their Pennie’s for patients campaign. It is important for people to understand that cancer can affect anyone at any age. I started having a lemonade stand to help out sick children in my community. People come from all over to support the cause. I recycle bottles and cans to clean our environment and donate the money to local childhood cancer organizations. I really enjoy changing the world for the better. I have overcome many obstacles in my life and don’t plan on stopping any time soon. I look forward to learning new and exciting information at college and hopefully get a chance to travel the world. If I am awarded this scholarship, it will get me one step closer to making my future goals a reality. I thank you so much for reading my story.

I am a high school senior and mixed martial arts is a passion of mine. Unlike most children, I am a cancer survivor and was not able to pursue sports until I was about 11 years old. I found it very difficult to pick up a sport after being treated for leukemia for over 3 years. My body was weak but my mind wanted to find success in an athletic arena, and MMA did that for me. I am now stronger than I ever imagined possible. Not only physically, but mentally as well. I am currently on the principal’s list at school and am taking multiple college and AP classes. I enjoy fundraising and raising awareness for pediatric cancer patients. I am a role model to younger kids in my community and encourage them to never stop trying. Martial arts has given me a way to blow off stress after a long day of school or work. My future goal is to obtain a Bachelor’s degree in engineering and I know MMA will help to get me there.

You never think cancer can get you, until it does. I remember my mom talking about her friend at work who’s son died from brain cancer. She and my dad could not believe that someone they knew could be dealing with this devastation. He was only eight years old and his name was Jake. My mom held me so tight after coming home from his funeral. I had no idea what was going on. Within the next year, I was getting fevers and felt wiped out. My mom brought me to the pediatrician and they tested me for every childhood illness, but everything was negative. Just a virus they said. It could last 7 days they said. My mother just kept bringing me back to the doctors office and she suggested that they take bloodwork. The doctor seemed annoyed but took a blood sample anyway. Probably just to get my mom out of there. The next morning, the phone rang and my mom answered it and started freaking out. She fell to the floor, crying. Next thing I knew, I was in the emergency room and the doctor looked upset. He told my parents that I had leukemia. For the next 3 years, I received chemotherapy into my port and spine, blood transfusions, steroids and other torture that I do not wish to relive. My childhood was taken away from me during that time. I was very weak and immunosuppressed so I was forced to stay away from anyone who could possibly get me sick. It was a lonely and boring time. My only friends were the nurses and child life specialists at the Cancer Center for Kids. They made every visit an adventure with games and toys to keep me occupied. Once I could finally go back to school, I knew I had to work really hard to catch up to the other kids. I believed in myself and today I am on the principal’s list. If you asked me a few years ago where I thought I’d be right now, it’s definitely not here. I am a high school senior, taking college and AP classes. I have been accepted to SUNY Maritime and hope to become an engineer one day. Cancer couldn’t stop me so I plan on spreading awareness about pediatric cancers in the future. I volunteer my time at the Leukemia Lymphoma Society to share my story and raise them money for research. I will always live my life to the fullest.

I was diagnosed with leukemia when I was six years old. I endured over three years of treatments. I received chemotherapy into my port and spine, blood transfusions, steroids and countless other torturous procedures that saved my life. I spent a great deal of time in the hospital and Cancer Center for Kids. I did not have a typical childhood. My mother is a registered nurse and my dad is a volunteer firefighter. Helping out people in need, runs in my blood. The only difference then was that we were the people in need this time. My mom stopped working because caring for me was a full time job. My dad kept working because we needed insurance to pay for all my medical expenses. Complete strangers would send me toys and gift cards to restaurants. The medication that I was on made me so hungry all the time. My parents would always talk about how generous and selfless people were and it was at that time that I decided to be a giver. Once I became strong enough, it was my mission to help out sick children. My family and I decided to host a lemonade stand and give all the proceeds to local families who have a sick child. I remember a guy handing me a hundred dollar bill and I looked at my parents and said “how many lemonades is that?” They all laughed and I realized that this guy was a giver too. Every year the lemonade stand gets bigger and bigger. People come from all over to donate money to these sick kids. I’ve learned that spreading awareness about childhood cancer is the first step to ending it. I also collect cans and bottles to recycle. Cleaning the environment while making money is a win, win. As soon as I collect $100, I donate it to a local childhood cancer organization. It was a struggle to get where I am today. My childhood didn’t start out until my treatment ended and the side effects wore off. I wasn’t able to learn or play sports like everyone else. Now, fast forward to today. I am a high school senior, taking college and advanced placement courses. I am on the principal’s list and even played varsity football this year. My community believes in me and I hope I’ve made them proud. I know that if I can beat cancer, I can do anything.

My biggest role model is my mother. She has done so much for me and never expects anything in return. My mother is a registered nurse and loves to help people. I was diagnosed with leukemia when I was six years old and without her, I don’t think I’d be here today. She immediately stopped working at the hospital and cared for me 24/7. Trust me, it was a full time job. The exact details of my three year treatment are a little foggy but I’d like to share what I remember. I know that I never felt alone and she would explain everything to me in a way that was easy to understand. My mother held our family together and always looked to the bright side of things. She would build these Lego sets with me, play board games, make puzzles and did whatever she could to take my mind off the fact that I was close to death. My body was deteriorating and I felt awful. Aside from chemotherapy into my port and spine, I had to take steroids. I remember feeling so hungry all the time but after I ate, I would vomit. It was a vicious cycle. My mom would make me whatever I was craving and that usually was tacos. I couldn’t really taste things the same way and spicy foods always were the best. My mom is the best cook in the world. Once my cancer treatments were completed, that’s when an equally hard part began. I was not the same as all of the other kids. I wasn’t capable of playing sports and everyone seemed smarter than me. My mom was able to recognize that and reached out to coaches and tutors to catch me up to speed. Now, fast forward to today and you could see that I finally caught up. I take college and advanced placement courses in high school, and am on the principal’s list. I even played varsity football and it felt great to be on a team. My mom has also taught me the importance of volunteering for things that are special to me. Spreading awareness about pediatric cancer has enabled me to raise money for sick kids and their families. I now understand the feeling she talks about when you help people. It’s amazing. My mother has always been there for me and now it’s my time to make her really proud. I want to go to college and make a positive impact on our world. Wish me luck!

If you met me today, you would think that I was an average high school senior, just like everyone else. I’m here to tell you, that there’s definitely more that meets the eye. I am a cancer survivor. When I was 6 years old, I was diagnosed with acute lymphoblastic leukemia, or blood cancer. I had to endure over 3 years of chemotherapy, blood transfusions, chemo into my spinal fluid, tons of hospitalizations, and pure torture that I would rather not relive. There were so many times that I almost didn’t make it, sepsis is a real monster. I spent most of the time in isolation. Any small germ could literally put me on a ventilator. My parents and I spent every holiday and birthday alone. There were no parties or play dates. There was no little league or soccer. I couldn’t go to school and my only friends were the doctors and nurses that took care of me. My mom is a nurse and had to stop working because taking care of me was a full time job 24/7. My dad had to keep working in order to have insurance to pay for all my care. My little sister had no idea what was going on and stayed with my grandparents most of the time. My family was flipped upside down and each day brought a new challenge. While my family was suffering, people from our neighborhood would drop off toys, food and gift cards for us. My parents would always say how generous and thoughtful people were and that was when I decided to be a giver. Once I was strong enough, we started a yearly lemonade stand and gave all the money we raised to local families dealing with a sick child or parent. I can remember a guy handing me a hundred dollar bill and I looked at my mom and said “how many lemonades is that?” They all started laughing, and that’s when I realized that this guy was a giver too. Every year, the lemonade stand gets bigger and bigger. People come from all over to donate or help out. I know that spreading awareness about pediatric cancer is the first step to helping people in need and I will never stop. Today, I am a high school senior, consistently on the principal’s list. I played varsity football and ran cross country. I know for a fact that if I could beat cancer, then I can do anything that I set my mind to.