As most high school graduates entering college, I questioned time and time again what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. How was I supposed to know that what I studied in school now was something I would still be interested in doing 50 years down the road? The truth is, I didn’t, and that was what scared me the most about entering my freshman year at Grand Valley.

Like most, I settled on obtaining my Bachelor’s degree within the business field, following in the footsteps of my family. I guess I assumed that because members of my family had obtained their Bachelor in Business, that it was the road I was supposed to take as well. It was when I was sitting in Macroeconomics my very first day of classes as a student at Grand Valley, I realized that I had it all wrong. I realized I had no interest in sitting behind a desk all day, working at a computer, buried in work I truly didn’t really care about. I suddenly discovered, the field of business was not something I was passionate about, and I surely did not want to spend the rest of my life doing it.

I was fortunate enough to realize I was unhappy with my decided major the first semester of my freshman year. Some people spend four years studying their degree, only to realize it is something they truly are uninterested in. When deciding what it is I truly was passionate about, I took it upon myself to enroll in a variety of general education classes to see if there was a class that could hopefully spark my interest. It was possible to do this at Grand Valley because we are a Liberal Arts College, that seeks to provide a multitude of opportunities for its’ students.

By my second semester, I still questioned what it is I was truly passionate about in life. I sat down and thought about what it is I was passionate about, enough so to make a career out of it. It took a tragic event in the life of a family friend for me to realize what it is I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing, and that was to help others. The opportunities of jobs that enlisted helping others was endless, so I was still unsure of what exact profession I was seeking.

A family friend of ours was very young when she was diagnosed with a rare brain tumor that the doctors deemed untreatable. A tragedy that took a turn in the life of not only herself, but the lives her family as well. Every time I saw her, she always had that bright beautiful smile on her face, laughing and making the most of every moment, even if she was in pain. She truly was, and still is an inspiration to me.

When I got the news that she had passed away, I sat in silence, disbelief. I could not believe that she was gone. I ached for her family and friends, as the tragedy of this event was extremely painful, even for myself. When I went to her funeral, I finally caught a glimpse at how many others lives she had the ability to leave an impact on, and the feeling was simply indescribable. Many individuals spoke at her funeral, all having nothing but the best to say about this sweet little girl who had changed their lives. I significantly remember when her occupational therapists stepped up to speak about her.

Each stood up and explained just how much this little girl truly had changed their lives, and how she served as a constant reminder of why they chose this profession in the first place. It was people like this little girl who kept them going, and who helped light the passion behind their profession. When I spoke to her family, they told me how these occupational therapists had made a world of a difference in not only her life, but in the life of their family as well. It was after this tragic event, I realized how passionate I was about helping others. It was in this moment I decided what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. I suddenly realized that passion I was searching for, was right in front of me, and I owe it all to the young girl who changed my life, even though she may not have known it.

Each and every day that I embark on a journey that is guiding me towards my future profession as an occupational therapist, this little girl serves as my reminder to where I am, and where I want to be. When I feel like giving up, I think about how she stayed strong, and never gave up on her fight, even if the doctors deemed her tumor untreatable. When I realize I am only halfway through all the schooling I need to go through to obtain my degree and second guess graduate school, I think about how many lives I could impact just like this little girl impacted mine. When I feel defeated, I remember all of the times she was defeated, but chose to keep going. As a constant reminder of this little girl who changed my life, I wear a bracelet in memory of her. It reads, “#STAYSTRONG, DEUT 31.6.” Deuteronomy 31.6; “Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.”

To the little girl that changed my life, thank you for showing me all of the possibilities that life had to offer. Thank you for showing me to stay strong even in the toughest of times. Thank you for always wearing that bright beautiful smile everywhere you went, even when you were in pain. Thank you for impacting my life in such a positive way, even though I may not have known you all that well. Thank you for being the little girl that serves as a reminder to keep going each day, even though each day may not be as easy as we would like. Thank you for helping me realize that helping others is what I wanted to spend the rest of my life doing. To the little girl that changed my life, thank you for simply being you. Fly high beautiful angel.