The second week of February this past spring semester would have otherwise been one of the hardest weeks of freshman year. It’s halfway between the beginning of the semester and spring break, and it’s when the first midterms and exams are creeping up on students. It also tends to be the coldest time of the year, when we still have to trek across campus in single-digit temperatures. It’s easy to feel homesick, stressed, or ready for the beach.
Hour Eight: My friends and I at BuckeyeTHON 2017!
But then I went to BuckeyeTHON and all of that disappeared.
None of your seemingly big problems matter any more when you hear firsthand the stories of families who have spent birthdays, holidays, and every day in an oncology ward. That huge statistics exam coming up means nothing after meeting amazing kids who have never had the chance to go to a normal school and play outside at recess. And being away from your friends, family, and pets at home doesn’t seem so hard after listening to the stories of parents who moved away from their homes, jobs, and everything else just so they can save their kids’ lives at a faraway hospital.
BuckeyeTHON was so incredible because I felt so many things that weren’t about me or my problems. I was heartbroken to hear these families’ stories and to realize that thousands of others across the country are going through the same thing that no one should ever have to deal with. I was inspired by the courageous way that these kids look cancer in the face and still have the bravery to live their lives and be themselves. I was touched by the incredible support their parents and siblings provide, and I learned that when a child has cancer, their entire family does, too. I was proud to hear about how Ohio State’s own cancer hospitals is one of the leading cancer treatment centers in the world. And I was amazed that over 3,000 Buckeyes could come together and raise over $1.5 million for a cause that needs our every last penny.
For The Kids ♥︎
After twelve hours of silent disco, free food, face-painting, bouncy castles, amazing student performances, ga-ga ball, and tutu-making, I croaked out Carmen Ohio with my arms around my best friends as tears streamed down my face and smeared my glittery orange face paint. I continued to cry into my ice cream from UDF as we walked back to our dorm in our tutus and t-shirts in the freezing February air. I was still emotional from these families’ overwhelming stories of overcoming cancer, but a little part of me was sad that BuckeyeTHON was over.
So the third week of February rolled on, and while I still had four weeks of exams and assignments to go before spring break, I didn’t worry about them as much. Along with my sore feet and my tutu, it all reminded me that there’s a lot left we need to do For The Kids ♥︎