Savana Stephenson, American Fork HS, 2018

Throughout my life my mom has always been one of my best friends. We have always been so similar and I will forever be grateful for that. During my junior year of high school my best friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was angry and upset and I couldn’t, for the life of me figure out why someone so pure and kind was given this trial. My sister had just left on her mission and I felt so alone and lost. While my mom was going through chemo treatments I had to be the mom of the house. My mom of course tried and tried to do everything she could but it broke my heart to see her physically not able to do the simple tasks she could before. Seeing someone I loved so much in so much pain was hard. I found it harder to get up in the mornings, harder to focus in class and extremely hard to be at practice all day knowing I couldn’t do anything to help her. It mentally and emotionally drained me. I had to take my brother to school and practices and games all while trying to balance my own life. I went to school at 7 in the morning and got home around 6 at night everyday because of practice. There were multiple times I wanted to come home, run to my room, curl up in a ball and just cry but I knew I couldn’t. I had to be strong for my mom. I knew it would only stress her out more if she knew I was hurting inside. Despite all of this I wouldn’t change a thing because this made me into who I am. I had to find the strength within myself, I had to pull myself out of the gutter and I had to choose every day whether or not it was going to be a good day. I found myself! I found who I am and who I wanted to be! Life gets better, life will always get better! I learned that sometimes you have to hit rock bottom to truly understand how strong you are. To anyone reading this, whatever your trial is DON’T GIVE UP. You are worth it and you are so unbelievably strong. Don’t underestimate your strength or who you are! This trial was a blessing and I know for a fact I am better prepared for life because of it.