The chrysalis falls off and the butterfly emerges, unsure of this new life she must now call her own. After hearing the words “cancer” my life radically changed. Now at age 24, I have learned that life is supposed to be fun and vibrant, but also about work and dedication to that which will build me up as a person working for change. I am focused on my studies to gain the credentials I need to helping me become a better educator and eventually a strong leader. I feared telling people about my experience with cancer because I did not want to make it a pity, woe is me story, but rather as a chance to start fresh. Until I did not see cancer as such, I felt it was best not to talk about a very difficult time. I have attempted in this blog to be as raw with my words and feelings as I best remembered them to bring life to my experience. I did not write this blog for myself but rather for the lost young woman with thyroid cancer, afraid, lonely, as I was, so that she knows that although each case is different, one thing remains the same, hope for life and a positive attitude will be your saving grace. I did not know how much until I was able to let go of the anxiety and put my faith and trust in God. All that is meant to be shall be and in the end I ask to know that I changed the life for one person, even if that person is myself. I believe that life is but a beautiful struggle, the more we struggle the more beautiful it becomes. Despite what the priest said in his sermon today, pain is an essential part of love. I will not let painful circumstances bring me down, instead I’ll make them the fuel for my body, the battleship, against the war of life. Cancer is not the end, never see it that way, keep fighting, keep crying, keep laughing, keep searching, keep on loving, keep on keeping on and trust that the butterfly shall fly to a beautiful paradise someday...