Finding Strength Through Difficulties by Charlee

Finding Strength Through Difficulties by Charlee - January 2026 Scholarship Essay

June 25,2021 – the day my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer.

We were packing for our annual beach vacation with my grandparents and cousins. Then the results of her biopsy dropped into MyChart, and our world stopped for a moment. But if you knew my mom, you would know that it didn’t stop for long. We finished packing for the trip, and we drove to North Myrtle Beach, SC. We continued with life. During that week, my parents made three trips back for doctor’s appointments and another biopsy – three 10 hour round trips – so my two younger sisters and I could have our family vacation.

We were all scared, but my parents made sure we knew they were there for us, and we prayed together every day and continued living. The “plan” was set – chemo first, then surgery, then radiation, if all went according to plan. The chemo was the hardest – eight treatments of the dreaded “red devil” chemotherapy, administered every two weeks. My dad went with her for every single treatment, and I learned that the commitment they shared was very special. He even shaved his head when she started losing her hair and decided it was time for it all to go.

My mom is the principal of Youth Leadership Academy Charter Middle School, and this happened my eighth grade year at the same school. She didn’t miss a single day of work, other than her treatment days, and all of us learned what courage looks like. I know there were days that she really didn’t feel like being there, but we all needed her - all 300 of us – so she was there. She never missed one of my tennis matches that season, either.

My mom is Super Woman, and while she displayed her strength, I discovered my own strength… the strength to continue with what needs to be done, rising above physical, mental, and emotional fatigue. I discovered that putting others before yourself is not just a nice idea; rather, it is a daily decision that must be made. I found that just showing up can have a positive influence on others, and that servant leadership is more than a catchy motto – it’s a way of life.

This chapter of our lives helped us with other chapters to come – my emergency appendectomy when my appendix burst, my youngest sister’s surgery to remove a thyroglossal duct cyst, my dad’s surgery to correct a hip problem, and my mom’s double mastectomy surgery just this past December, to be followed by another surgery in March.

Physically and financially, it has been a difficult section of my family’s life story. Spiritually, it has been a time to grow stronger together – a time to put our faith into action – a time to consider what the future holds for each of us. For me, it has resulted in the decision to become a Nurse Anaesthetist. It’s not an easy course, but I feel that it’s the one for me. I have discovered that I am stronger than I thought, and I have a new determination to help people who find themselves in surgery for many different reasons, just as medical professionals have helped my family to recover these last five years.