The year was 2014...I was about to turn 27, and I felt like life was starting to click into place. With our almost two-year-old daughter growing up fast, I was returning to school to finish my degree. But in that moment, everything screeched to a halt. My plans, my dreams, all of it flashed before my eyes, suddenly uncertain. Dr. Squires delivered the news, but my mind struggled to process it all. Words like "B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia," "immunocompromised," and "poor prognosis" swirled in my head, resembling scenes from a poorly scripted soap opera. Soon after, I found myself whisked away to a research hospital due to the severity of my condition. Over 165 days as an inpatient, including five weeks on a ventilator, I underwent a stem cell transplant in the ICU, a desperate "last ditch effort" attempt to save my life was made possible by my brother's perfect match as a donor. Having just surpassed the milestone of my 10th year since my life-saving stem cell transplant, I'm filled with optimism about checking off some more of the goals on my "decade under the sun" bucket list. Reaching the 10-year mark is a huge milestone for transplant survivors. I'm determined not to look back on this decade and feel like I've missed out on pursuing my larger goals. Despite overcoming numerous secondary health challenges stemming from being post-transplant, learning how to walk again, and dealing with graft vs host disease, I'm ready to embrace this major goal. Becoming disabled at my age was not something I was prepared for, but definitely, something that has shown me what sort of tenacity lies within me. Beyond surviving, I'm a mom and wife. Despite challenging the odds within the medical books, I've conquered every day and every dire challenge since my diagnosis. Now, with my health stabilized, it's time to focus on the dreams I had before my diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia interrupted them. I'm eager to pursue my Associate's Degree in Cancer Information Management, along with certification as an Oncology Data Specialist (formerly known as a Cancer Tumor Registrar) through the National Cancer Registrar Association. Combining my former work history that displays a solid foundation in medical fieldwork and a personal cancer survivor journey, I am positioned to offer valuable insights and am committed to excellence in oncology data management, contributing to transformative care solutions and research advancements. I hope to one day be able to contribute a significant amount of data to help make a difference in this world.

Throughout my life, I have faced numerous challenges that have shaped my determination and resilience, ultimately enabling me to pursue higher education. One of the most significant obstacles I have overcome is surviving leukemia and undergoing a subsequent stem cell transplant as a young adult. The journey was arduous and filled with uncertainties, but it also revealed my inner strength and unyielding spirit. Despite these trials, I have consistently tried to maintain an optimistic attitude and persevere. My perseverance and dedication have not only allowed me to succeed in overcoming insurmountable odds but also to keep my goals intact, no matter what it took. I had to do it for my daughter and my husband, but most importantly myself, because my life depended on it. During my battle with leukemia, I was an inpatient for 165 days, enduring various critical side effects from the experimental treatment. I experienced firsthand the critical role that accurate and comprehensive cancer information plays in patient care and treatment outcomes. This profound realization fueled my passion for Cancer Information Management, a field dedicated to collecting, analyzing, and utilizing cancer data to improve patient care and advance cancer research. My chosen field of study is not just a career path but a deeply personal mission to contribute to the fight against cancer in a meaningful and impactful way. My goal upon graduation is to obtain my Oncology Data Specialist certification from the National Cancer Registrar Association. This certification will equip me with the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to manage cancer data effectively and ensure its accuracy and accessibility for research and clinical purposes. I am driven by a vision to substantially impact my field, contributing to advancements and setting new benchmarks. By becoming an expert in cancer information management, I aim to support oncologists, researchers, and policymakers in making informed decisions that can lead to better patient outcomes and, ultimately, maybe a cure for cancer one day. In my field, I am excited about the opportunity to work remotely while contributing to the continually evolving data pool on cancer information. This flexibility will allow me to balance my professional responsibilities with my chronic personal health needs, ensuring that I can maintain my well-being while making a significant contribution to my field. The remote nature of this work also opens up potential opportunities for collaboration with experts from around the country, fostering a diverse and dynamic exchange of ideas and innovations. As I have mentioned, this role holds a special significance for me as a cancer survivor, fueling my passion and dedication to make a meaningful impact. My personal experience with cancer, combined with my medical work history, has given me a unique perspective and a deep understanding of the challenges faced by patients and healthcare providers. It has also instilled in me a profound sense of empathy and a commitment to improving the lives of others affected by this disease. Whether it involves developing new data collection methods, advocating for better data standards, or using data analytics to uncover new insights, I am dedicated to advancing within the role of an Oncology Data Specialist. To accomplish my goals, I am willing to put in the necessary hard work and dedication. The journey to where I am today has not been easy, but it has taught me the value of perseverance and the power of a positive mindset. After battling cancer and relearning how to walk, I have proven to myself that I possess the resilience and determination needed to overcome significant challenges. These experiences have strengthened my resolve and prepared me for the demanding yet rewarding work that lies ahead. With each obstacle I faced, I emerged stronger and more determined to succeed in my endeavors. Through dedication, collaboration, and an unwavering commitment to excellence, I believe I can drive meaningful changes both in my field and in my personal growth. I understand that the fight against cancer is multifaceted and requires a concerted effort from various stakeholders, including patients, healthcare providers, researchers, and policymakers. By working together and leveraging our collective expertise, we can make significant strides toward better cancer treatments and, someday, a cure. In conclusion, my journey has been marked by challenges and triumphs that have shaped who I am today. Surviving leukemia and overcoming the physical and emotional hurdles that came with it have given me a unique perspective and a deep sense of purpose. My passion for Cancer Information Management and my commitment to making a meaningful impact in this field are rooted in my personal experiences and my unwavering belief in the power of data to transform cancer care. With hard work, dedication, and a collaborative spirit, I am confident that I can contribute to significant advancements in my field and help create a brighter future for cancer patients and survivors.

My journey with mental health has been influenced by various factors, including my experience as a stem cell transplant survivor for leukemia. The challenges of battling a life-threatening illness have sometimes exacerbated my struggles with mental well-being, amplifying feelings of anxiety and triggering my PTSD, and survivor's guilt. Additionally, losing friends to mental health tragedies has further emphasized the importance of advocating for mental health awareness and support. In relationships, these experiences have fostered deeper empathy and vulnerability, allowing me to lean on loved ones for support and understanding. Navigating the world through the lens of illness and loss has heightened my awareness of various societal stigmas and systemic barriers regarding mental health, motivating me to advocate for change and greater access to mental health resources. I've learned to lean on loved ones for support, breaking down barriers of stoicism and self-reliance (stubbornness) to embrace the healing power of human connection. This has encouraged me to cherish each connection, recognizing the fragility of life and the importance of fostering open dialogue about mental health struggles. Overall, while my journey with mental health has had its challenges, it has also taught me resilience and the importance of prioritizing self-care and seeking support when needed. I am grateful to be in a position to reignite my educational journey after these struggles, thank you for any consideration.

3698 days have passed since my diagnosis, 3578 days have been lived since my life-saving stem cell transplant, and now, with just 24 days left until the beginning of my next chapter, I reflect with excitement on the journey that has shaped me and the future that awaits. My name is Brandy, and I am an AYA (Adolescent and Young Adult) Cancer Survivor. Beyond surviving, I'm a mom and wife. Despite challenging the odds within the medical books, I've conquered every day and every dire challenge since my diagnosis. Now, with my health stabilized, it's time to focus on the dreams I had before my diagnosis of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia interrupted them. One of those dreams is to complete my degree in Cancer Information Management, which will pave the way to pursue certification as an Oncology Data Specialist. However, returning to school comes with financial challenges. This scholarship would be a tremendous aid in alleviating that burden, empowering me to continue my journey toward fulfilling my aspirations. As a leukemia and stem cell transplant survivor, I'm grateful for what life has to offer. But planning for the future means ensuring I have the education to help aid in supporting my family. My family, especially my husband and daughter, mean the world to me. When I was diagnosed, my daughter was almost 2 years old. Now, I want to accomplish my professional goals and continue being a positive influence for her in every aspect of life. In addition to my professional aspirations, throughout my journey as a survivor, my family and I have discovered a deep appreciation for volunteering with different organizations. When you're just glad to be alive, it kinda makes you wanna spread some love around, you know? From helping others by fundraising for cancer support organizations to hosting donor drives for bone marrow/stem cell donor registries, as well as contributing to youth enrichment programs, we've found fulfillment in giving back to our community. It's tough to sum up such a life-changing journey in just a few words, but I hope my message reflects my eagerness to succeed and keep living life to the fullest. I'd be grateful for your consideration for this scholarship.

The phone broke the silence, startling me. "Hey Brandy, it's Dr. Squires," the voice said trying to mask his disappointment. My heart skipped. "Your biopsy results are in. Can you swing by with your husband?" The year was 2014...I was about to turn 27, and I felt like life was just starting to click into place. With our almost two-year-old daughter growing up fast, I had decided to return to school to finish my degree. But in that moment, everything screeched to a halt. My plans, my dreams, all of it flashed before my eyes, suddenly uncertain. The office visit felt like a whirlwind. Dr. Squires delivered the news, but my mind struggled to process it all. Words like "B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia," "immunocompromised," and "poor prognosis" swirled in my head, resembling scenes from a poorly scripted soap opera. Soon after, I found myself whisked away to a research hospital due to the severity of my condition. Over the course of 165 days as an inpatient, including five weeks on a ventilator, I underwent a stem cell transplant in the ICU, a desperate "last ditch effort" attempt to save my life was made possible by my brother's perfect match as a donor. Approaching the milestone of my 10th year since my life-saving stem cell transplant, I'm filled with optimism about checking off some more of the goals on my "decade under the sun" bucket list. Reaching the 10-year mark is a huge milestone for transplant survivors. I'm determined not to look back on this decade and feel like I've missed out on pursuing my larger goals. Despite overcoming numerous secondary health challenges stemming from being post-transplant, learning how to walk again, and dealing with graft vs host disease, I'm ready to embrace this major goal. Despite being a part of the underrepresented Adolecent and Young Adult (AYA) Cancer community I'm eager to pursue my Associate's Degree in Cancer Information Management, along with certification as an Oncology Data Specialist (formerly known as a Cancer Tumor Registrar) through the National Cancer Registrar Association. Drawing from my work experience and genuine dedication to healthcare, I see this path as a perfect fit for my strengths. I would love to continue to break down barriers and stigmas we often face as an AYA Cancer Survivor. I would love to become an Oncology Data Specialist as they play a crucial role in collecting, maintaining, and analyzing data related to cancer patients and treatments. This information is vital for cancer research, epidemiology, and public health efforts. My aspiration is that the collective efforts of myself and fellow ODSs will contribute to a future where the prevalence of cancer among not only the AYA population, but the entire population, becomes a thing of the past. While the ultimate goal remains a world free from cancer, making advancement toward its reduction is a significant step forward.

The telephone rings, “Brandy, it’s Dr. Squires...your biopsy results came back. Can you and your husband come into the office to discuss the findings?” The office visit was a blur, my eyes glazed over and my brain froze. I picked up on key words: B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, severely immunocompromised, prognosis poor, treatment undecided. I was almost 28 and had just made the decision to return to school to finish my degree now that our daughter was almost two years old. The brakes squealed on that decision as my life flashed before my eyes.  For full transparency - I tried to get a degree from a university which honestly failed before it started. I then went to a technical college and my confidence was just in the dumpster. For everything I did well, I feel like I was my own worst enemy because I had this habit of self-sabotage to make my strides counterproductive. Imposter syndrome is a weird feeling. Coming from a home where neither parent attended college, I felt lost coming out of High School without guidance and I was just rolling with the punches.  Cancer was the wakeup call that I needed to do better – it ignited my drive. It really can be the cliche that people often mention as “being an eye-opening experience.” That rough experience can polish the pearl that has been waiting to emerge. I was fortunate enough to have a sibling who was a DNA/HLA match for me to receive my life saving stem cell transplant after over 100 days in the hospital (I spent 165 in total.) After all that I have been through I think I will have a new appreciation for being a student and a new confidence in my abilities to get the work done. I have learned how to speak again after a tracheotomy, I learned how to walk again after being in a wheelchair for two years after having dealt with graft vs host disease & bilateral Achilles lengthening surgeries, I have learned how to use my body in the face of newfound disabilities, and just simply have learned how to live. My ambition came alive in facing death. My journey is what has inspired me to finally further my education and to try to obtain a permanent career in the medical field. I see my future goals as being easily attainable. I would love to set an example for my almost 12-year-old daughter as a college graduate. I am celebrating my 38th birthday in June and my 10th year post-stem cell transplant in July, and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the life I have been granted and the future ahead of me than to earn an associate degree in Cancer Information Management and to be certified as an Oncology Data Specialist with the National Cancer Registrars Association. While the difference I would make would not be directly seen by many, I feel that I would be a great asset to the specialized realm of being an Oncology Data Specialist. I am grateful to be alive and would be honored to even be considered for this opportunity.

The telephone rings, “Brandy, it’s Dr. Squires...your biopsy results came back. Can you and your husband come into the office to discuss the findings?” The office visit was a blur, my eyes glazed over and my brain froze. I picked up on key words: B-Cell Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia, severely immunocompromised, prognosis poor, treatment undecided. I was almost 28 and had just made the decision to return to school to finish my degree now that our daughter was almost two years old. The brakes squealed on that decision as my life flashed before my eyes.  For full transparency - I tried to get a degree from a university which honestly failed before it started. I then went to a technical college and my confidence was just in the dumpster. For everything I did well, I feel like I was my own worst enemy because I had this habit of self-sabotage to make my strides counterproductive. Imposter syndrome is a weird feeling. Coming from a home where neither parent attended college, I felt lost coming out of High School without guidance and I was just rolling with the punches.  Cancer was the wakeup call that I needed to do better – it ignited my drive. It really can be the cliche that people often mention as “being an eye-opening experience.” That rough experience can polish the pearl that has been waiting to emerge. I was fortunate enough to have a sibling who was a DNA/HLA match for me to receive my life saving stem cell transplant after over 100 days in the hospital (I spent 165 in total.) After all that I have been through I think I will have a new appreciation for being a student and a new confidence in my abilities to get the work done. I have learned how to speak again after a tracheotomy, I learned how to walk again after being in a wheelchair for two years after having dealt with graft vs host disease & bilateral Achilles lengthening surgeries, I have learned how to use my body in the face of newfound disabilities, and just simply have learned how to live. My ambition came alive in facing death.  I see my future goals as being easily attainable. I would love to set an example for my almost 12-year-old daughter as a non-traditional college graduate. I want to show her that it's never too late to accomplish your goals. I am celebrating my 38th birthday in June and my 10th year post-stem cell transplant in July, and I cannot think of a better way to celebrate the life I have been granted and the future ahead of me than to earn an associate degree in Cancer Information Management and to be certified as an Oncology Data Specialist with the National Cancer Registrars Association. I am grateful to be alive and would be honored to even be considered for this opportunity.

Get busy living! This is my motto as I step into the future and try to accomplish my long-awaited educational goals that have been placed on the back burner due to 'life'. As a leukemia and stem cell transplant survivor I have a lot to live for, but planning for the future is not possible without an education that will enable me to pay for the cost of living my beautiful and grateful life. Because I survived, I get to spend precious time with those who mean the most to me which include my husband and daughter. My daughter was almost 2 when I was diagnosed and I would love to be able to accomplish my professional goals and continue to be an inspiration for her in multi-facets of life. I would love to be able to attain my Associate's Degree in Cancer Information Management with a certification to be an Oncology Data Specialist from the National Cancer Registrar Association. With my relevant work history and my passion for healthcare, I believe this would be the perfect career avenue for me to excel. It would also mean a lot to me personally as neither one of my parents has continued education past high school. I know that I am slightly older than the typical college student, but almost 10 years of managing my unpredictable health was quite the detriment to my timeline in accomplishing my educational goals. This scholarship would help me accomplish my goals as I start the journey to obtain my Associate's Degree in Cancer Information Management. It would help lessen the financial strain while allowing me to balance the expenses in my daily life. This contribution to my educational goals would enable my family to manage a realistic quality of life during the time of my educational journey. I would be indebted to even the thought of being considered for this scholarship as it would mean so much for me to not only overcome the obstacle of my stagnant educational status after cancer but also to accomplish a milestone that neither of my parents ever accomplished. Having a degree would open so many doors for my continued future that I literally fought so hard to be a part of. Leukemia bought me: 165 days in the hospital, multi-organ failure, 5 weeks on a ventilator, an emergent stem cell transplant in the ICU, graft vs host disease, and most importantly a new lease on life. I am grateful to be here and to be able to even request to be considered for this scholarship. I appreciate the opportunity to be heard and to accomplish something to make my parents and family proud (even at 37.)