The "My Hometown Hero's Scholarship" would be a life changing opportunity for me. It would mean that I have the opportunity to pursue my college education and alleviate some of the financial burden that causes students a lot of stress. It would allow me to focus more on my studies and less on the financial aspect of pursuing them. It will open doors for me to show off my hard work that might've otherwise been out of reach had I not been a survivor. But it also so much more than financial assistance. It's a testament to my resilience and determination to overcome life's toughest challenges. It would allow me to pursue my dreams and continue my education. It would also allow me to give hope to other survivors who may feel as though they cannot overcome what they face. It would be a beacon of hope for both them and their team of doctors. I wouldn't be able to do the things that I do without the amazing team at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin. I was diagnosed with B Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia when I was just 5 years old. I'll never forget how my mother and primary physician recognized the signs. For the next 2 years I would be fighting an uphill battle. Even though their was a high chance that I would survive, the fact that I was diagnosed with cancer at such a young age, worried my parents. I'll never forget leaving chemo and labs drained with barely enough energy to eat, how when my mother combed my hair it would be falling out in the brush, and how uneasy the energy in the room became each time a doctor talked to my parents. But I was a fighter, and I pulled through. Ringing the bell at the hospital to symbolize my last ever treatment was a triumphant feeling I'll never forget. I felt like a superhero. I wore my cancer survivor shirt until it barely fit me anymore. My family celebrated but my favorite memory is going home at the age of 7, and getting to clear my entire cabinet of medicine that I wouldn't need to take anymore. Through the Make A Wish Foundation I was able to take my parents, grandparents, and sister to Disney World and I still remember, to this day, starting every morning with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, rainbow sprinkles, and three cherries on top. For that trip, I got to be something other than a patient. I got to be human. I rode rides, and met all my favorite characters that I once could only dream of meeting through an envision from a hospital bed. It is something I'll never forget and to the Make A Wish Foundation, I am forever grateful. This scholarship would give me a chance to give them at least a small fraction of the love they showed me. I work hard and would continue to work hard because a team of hardworking individuals saved my life.