Aunt "Me" and Me by Kade

Aunt "Me" and Me by Kade - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

I had the privilege of growing up the nephew of a ventilator-dependent quadriplegic. Although her life was full of physical challenges, her spirit exuded joy. She had no audible voice, yet her message was loud and clear; overflowing optimism leads to life of fulfillment. Witnessing her overcomer attitude in everything she faced led me to my personal future endeavors. Aunt Me's abilities to make a difference without the use of her extremities, inspired my choice to be a Communications major and an advocate for the disabled.
Our world is full of obstacles for those who face physical challenges. Emily or Aunt "Me" as I affectionately called her, had a cancerous, spinal cord tumor at the age of eight years old. She was sent home to die after multiple failed surgeries. When she was eleven, she lost her ability to walk and an article in Reader's Digest led my grandparents to New York, where an experimental procedure completely removed my aunt's growing tumor. Despite the life-saving surgery, she would eventually be placed on a ventilator. She lived an unprecedented eighteen years depending on this machine for her every breath. However, she worked tirelessly to ensure children in her community had appropriate accommodations at their schools, she wrote books to educate, and she fundraised for vital causes. Most importantly, she always smiled.
I will continue her work, as it is necessary. As a high school student, I started a non-profit organization in her honor. "Ramp Up 4 Emily". By repurposing discarded building materials, I create items to sell or auction off and use the profits to build ramps for those in our community. Currently, as a sophomore in college I am saturating my brain with knowledge and soaking in new experiences so that I may make a difference in the world, just like Aunt "Me"!
I am grateful for the personal experiences that my aunt provided. I encourage everyone to sit in a wheelchair and see the world through a different lens. Imagine life without your lungs involuntarily breathing for you and if the power is out, you pray your battery backup works. Go to a beach and see the difficulties that you face just to roll onto the sand. Go to an event and hope the doors are wide enough for you to enter. I am thankful for seeing the world through Aunt Me's eyes and encourage all to be compassionate and committed to making a difference.