Vaidika R., Centerville High School
Cancer
Six years ago, my friend''s grandma was diagnosed with cancer in her kidney. Five years ago, my sister''s friend was diagnosed with Leukemia. They were the survivors. Many people I know died from a disease we don''t fully understand, even to this day. Cancer has indirectly impacted my life, and I never thought about it until last May.
One afternoon, my friend asked for help with a fundraising campaign for LLS, the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society. Over eight weeks, high school students would run campaigns, recruit team members, and raise money. I wanted volunteer hours, so I agreed to help.
When I started, I didn''t realize the magnitude of my work and how it impacted others. My first fundraising event was a collaborative Zumba Workout. My friend and I were both dancers, so we led the workout. We made around $500. My second event was much more successful, and I raised three grand. Sketching is one of my passions, so I decided to do an art show fundraiser for my art to potential buyers. Lastly, my parents donated $800, which my dad''s company matched. Overall, I made around five grand, which granted me a certificate.
I was proud of myself, with over 100 hours of volunteering and $5,000 to donate, but I still hadn''t understood the cause I was fighting for. On the last day before the deadline, there was an LLS banquet to celebrate all the different team members. To start the banquet, they showed a video of a boy who died of Osteosarcoma. They showed the lives of those genuinely impacted by cancer. The parents of a cancer patient at the banquet spoke of how thankful they were for us—the next generation who spent time trying to better the world.
Every thought vanished from my mind. I played a small role in keeping more children from suffering, like the young boy who died. There was so much pain that cancer brought into this world. For the first time, I stopped thinking about my volunteer hours and began thinking about cancer patients and their hardships. Many of the other team members seemed to be having the same thoughts. High school students looking for volunteer hours became citizens of this world, doing their part to make a difference.
If there were one moment in my life that I never wish to forget, it would be the banquet. The pride I felt in my achievement was meaningless compared to the pure joy of making a difference. I was a part of something greater than myself that day, and my gratitude for the beauty of life has changed forever.
