Scholarship Recipients 2020-2021

"Having been the recipient of tremendous compassion and being touched by numerous incredible foundations for cancer, I find great joy in my ability to serve and assist those suffering with a terminal illness."

"To me survivorship means that you have weathered a storm and come out a different person. Some storms are small, like a thunderstorm, and some storms are gigantic, like a hurricane."

"To be a survivor means so much more than surviving the battle and claiming victory. "

"Survivorship is a privilege, and I am grateful every single day for how lucky I am. I am proud to be a cancer survivor. "

"I am not a survivor just because the cancer is no longer visible on computer images; I am a survivor because these twenty-one marks remind me that I have a purpose in life."

"My undying adventure in a hospital bed has given me a critical life lesson: it is not how long one lives that matters, but how he or she lives."

"My entire world view today is directly due to the personal growth I experienced throughout treatment, and to me that opportunity is the essence of survivorship."

"Survivorship means living every single day with the primary outlook of gratitude."

"Now my idea of survivorship is to take the experiences developed during my cancer battle and turn them into positive, driving aspects that guide my life."

"Survivorship to me is using my story to inspire others, remembering that my courage is bigger than all my fears, and reminding myself daily of the battle which taught me that love has the capacity to multiply faster than any cancer cell ever could."

"I may not have many memories of being in the hospital, but I do deserve the title 'cancer survivor' because of how I live out my life to honor the little girl that fought ALL."

"Survivorship is grasping onto your life with clenched hands, not allowing one more second to be consumed by fear"

"While it is true that not all cancer patients overcome the disease, it is true that we are all survivors, for we all fought and will fight to the end."

"Survivorship means that I will live in the moment, be confident in my contribution and intentional in my desire to change the world."

"I am embracing my life whole-heartedly, and chasing my survivorship with both hands, holding on for the ride, and ready to tackle whatever comes my way."

"Surviving is living beyond cancer and enjoying life again."

"Fate whispers to the warrior, 'You cannot withstand the storm,' and the warrior whispers back, 'I am the storm.' I am that survivor: a warrior."

"Currently, I am living as a survivor which I now understand is an immense gift not to be taken for granted."

"Survivorship should not be based on living or dying. Survivorship should be based on how hard you fight the cancer when you are living."

"If it weren’t for others helping me conquer my battle with leukemia when I was a young child, I would not be here today. I believe my purpose is to spread light and joy in that environment that is so scary."

"This is the calling of survivorship. It is embracing your experience to inspire others to keep fighting."

"Looking back on my experiences, I feel that I have been given a unique opportunity to help kids going through similar situations."

"I survived, and that means I now have the potential to not only live, but to truly thrive. I’m a survivor, and to me this means that I was broken and then repaired with gold."

"Surviving cancer taught me that I am stronger and able to accomplish much more than I realize."

"Survivorship may mean different things depending on who you ask, but I think what’s really important is that for those impacted by cancer, more and more are able to say that they are still here and have the opportunity to determine what survivorship means to them."

"So if you ask me 'What does survivorship mean to you?'… it means living and sharing! It means loving each day, each person, each moment."

"If I had never gone through the experience of battling leukemia, I would have never been given the opportunity to do the swim in the first place. Without overcoming these challenges, I cannot say I would be the same person I am today. I am a survivor."

"I realized that this was what survivorship meant: working for not only your survival and quality of life, but also for the survival and quality of life for all cancer patients."

"Survivorship means living and fighting every day for myself, those who have lost the fight, and those fighting."

There is no one meaning to "Survivorship" in the process of living through cancer. It is a fluid word with multiple definitions based on that moment or that stage of the course.

"I'm not sure how yet, but I want to use my light to brighten the world."

From the mountain of cancer I hope to remember my perseverance, the people who helped me on the climb, and know that if I was able to climb that mountain, then most other obstacles will be foothills.

"Life is too short to sit around waiting, and if I can inspire others with my story to take life by the horns, I will. I want to help others see the world from my unique perspective as a survivor."

Being a survivor is finding the joy in the smell of rain on the pavement, the peace in the drama, knowing the importance of family, and seeing miracles in everyday moments.

Survivorship means I get a first chance at seeing something that I was missing before.

"The moment I became a survivor, I took the initiative to heal, and educate myself about cancer and how to fight it."

"Survivorship is much more than a word that explains my success, it embodies the journey that I have faced."

Survivorship meant becoming a better, stronger me.

Surviving cancer means to me that you have stood up to the biggest bully on the block and you won.

Survivorship is an act of endurance-- no matter what the final outcome may be. I resolutely believe that every person who has, is, or ever will experience cancer is a survivor regardless of longevity.

"Survivorship means I am a warrior; I am courageous; I am strong; I am a lionheart."

Survivorship allows me appreciate the storms in my life and to be even more thankful for the rays of sunlight while I look for the rainbows. Being a survivor is a privilege- because being a survivor means that I live.

The true weight of survivorship is defined by the "how" and "what," of the journey. How did you approach these winding and dangerous trails, and what were the takeaways.

Being a survivor does not mean that you have beat cancer; being a survivor means that you live everyday as if it is a gift - that is "how" I live.

"Being a survivor... has taught me what is important, and showed me how vital it is to live everyday to the fullest."

I will do all that is in my power to help those that now suffer from cancer. If I can keep one person from being alone, it will be worth reliving the pain once again. That is what survivorship means to me.

As a survivor, I have refused to allow cancer to keep me from prospering in my young adult life. I have come to an acceptance of a life with limitations, yet great opportunities.

"Life is far too fragile to waste by pursuing comfort and hunting safety"

As a survivor myself, I see my job is to be an ambassador for those who can't speak to reach more of those who can help. It is in this way I leave a lasting legacy and make an impact for those like me.

Survivorship means that you get to push the restart button on your life so that you can experience small details from a different perspective.

"Life is a fragile thing, and we never know the moment it will end, but I want to live all of the days I have with thankfulness."

"Survivorship means always keeping courage close to your heart and to show others how it is possible to overcome anything as long as optimism and hope prevail."

So, what does survivorship mean to me? It is invaluable. Through my solitude I learned more about myself, and my limits, my strengths and weaknesses.

"Survivorship is something that you earn, whether it be during or after your experience."

Survivorship means never forgetting, forever being grateful, and giving back to those in need.