Within the first few weeks of college, I decided to head to the tattoo parlor. If you didn't know, I have a tattoo! Tattoos are a very controversial subject. My opinion is, the tattoo has to have meaning. It needs to be significant. I made the poor decision of not telling my family I was getting it, (sorry Mom and Dad!), but I was determined. It was an idea I had thought about for forever.

I walk into the shop with my roommate, I knew exactly what I wanted and where I wanted it. I wanted a small little black ribbon on the side of my rib cage. Nothing big, nothing overloaded, just a simple little piece, and here is why.

The symbol is a representation of a person, who passed away from cancer. See, when I was in middle school, and my sister was in elementary school, my mom would pick me up and we would wait at my sister's school to pick her up. For that 30-45 minute wait, this person would come sit in our car as she waited on her children, and just talk to us. She would share how everything was going, and she wasn't afraid to speak about it in front of me, which meant a lot to me.

She showed me that even in the darkest of moments, even when your'e grasping onto your life, it is important to stay positive and live life to the fullest.

Besides the cancer visibly taking over her body, she always had her wig or head wrap on. She always looked her best. If you take away the physical effect of the cancer, you wouldn't be able to tell that she had it because her attitude was so lively. She was strongest in her weakest days. She literally fought until the end, and with a smile on her face at that.

Her passing was one of the hardest things I have faced thus far in my life. She meant so much to me, and it meant so much that she included me on her journey. This was the first significant death I had experienced.

I knew I wanted something with me constantly to honor her, remember her, and to remind myself that you must stay optimistic and alive at the lowest points of life. I love my tattoo, and I love the message behind it. I am grateful I have had such a powerful connection with somebody. I am thankful that I could get such positive messages out of such a sad story.

I hope that I can always honor you and your message. I know you know how much you meant to be. Thank you for being my guardian angel.