Alisha is a two-time cancer survivor. She was first diagnosed with Stage II-A Nodular Sclerosing Hodgkin disease during her junior year of high school. Four years later, she was diagnosed with papillary thyroid cancer carcinoma and received a complete thyroidectomy. Although her studies were interrupted, Alisha persisted and earned her Associate’s Degree. During that time, she also volunteered at the same hospital that she was treated at in hopes of pursuing a nursing career. Alisha eventually earned acceptance at the University of Washington School of Nursing where she made the Dean’s list. After graduation, Alisha plans to work in pediatrics with medically complex patients where she believes she can have an influence because of her experience as a patient. Alisha believes that “it is our responsibility to determine how we react to life’s circumstances. I will choose to let my experiences challenge and grow me personally so that I may have empathy for others in whatever they are experiencing.”