Submitted by Katarina Son.
Cancer is a nightmare for many, but for me, it became my inspiration for change. It compelled me to confront my fears and rise above, stronger.
Freshman year, my focus shifted away from academics. Constant chaos at home drove me to rely on unhealthy “fixes.” Like many teenagers, I had easy access to marijuana and soon became dependent. It hurt my family to see me become someone unrecognizable, but I couldn’t stop. Marijuana was a crutch I didn’t know how to function without.
My siblings did not approve of my choices, and the distance that grew between us took a heavy toll on my motivation. Growing up, we raised one another and only had each other. As our bonds weakened, I mourned the relationships I once had with them, and in the midst of grief, I lost my sense of self.
As a result, anything beyond smoking felt impossible. I remember the days I showed up to school. I’d spend seven hours in classrooms, yet not a single minute of it was dedicated to learning. For so long, I clung to the last scraps of motivation I had, until one day, I finally decided, “school isn’t for me.”
Eventually, I stopped showing up.
Stubbornness and pride caused me to spiral, as I tried to pinpoint what had gone wrong and why my family despised me. As the summer of 2022 approached, I began to pray in private, which allowed me to gain clarity on the people I kept around. Eventually, I came to realize that the root of my problems stemmed from my own actions. With this new sense of clarity, I became more self-aware of who I allowed into my presence.
But then, a turning point came.
My sophomore year marked a new beginning when I moved to a new city. It was a chance for rebirth–the start of my sobriety and a new school environment that allowed my siblings and I to be together for the first time in two years. Waking up every day, and getting ready with my siblings fueled my motivation to change, it allowed me to gain a mind of my own that wasn’t reliant on marijuana.
However, on December 22, 2022, I was diagnosed with something that changed everything: cancer.
Watching my loved ones cry, uncertain of my survival, forced reality to sink in. At that moment, I realized I had to fight, not just for them but for myself as well.
“Why do you deserve to survive?” I questioned myself. Deep down I knew cancer wasn’t going to be the end of my story. I refused to let it.
Ultimately, during my month-long stay in the hospital, connected to tubes of medication, I realized this was going to be my turning point. I started online schooling and tutoring, determined to keep not just myself alive, but my education as well. In seven months, I completed eight courses.
When junior year began, I returned to in-person school. It was tough—fatigue, pain, and weekly appointments weighed in on me, but I pushed through. A few months in, I developed Avascular Necrosis in my hip from steroid treatments, leaving me on crutches for six months. Although navigating a three-building school on crutches was challenging, I refused to let it discourage me.
By the end of the school year, I proudly achieved high honors.
Now I’m a senior who’s been sober for two years, ending chemotherapy treatment in four months and set to graduate in eight.
Cancer is known to leave burdens on people’s lives. But for me, it was my biggest blessing. It has taught me to fight – to take control of my own narrative. As I embark on this new journey of life without cancer, I carry forward the invaluable lessons of gratitude, perseverance, and resilience, ready to embrace whatever comes next in life with determination and strength.
