My life completely changed two weeks into my junior year of high school, when I was diagnosed with a rare blood cancer.

I watched my plans for college__________ as my life turned upside down. I could no longer attend school, and my life became a balancing act between doctor's ________ and studying at home.

I spent the fall semester teaching myself at home. I never realized how much I ________ school until I wasn't able to attend. My ________ was to complete the same assignments as my classmates so that I would not be ________when I was able to return.

There were days which were not easy, ________I completed my study. I received ________news towards the end of the year—I was voted homecoming princess for   the junior class. For that one ________day, I was able to experience life as a “normal kid”.

Before my diagnosis, I was president of the Making-A-Wish Foundation club at my school and took pride in raising money for children ________. Now it all took on a new meaning because I could truly ________ their fears. Helping them achieve their   ______ became a top concern. I pushed my club to go further and organized a list of creative activities. We raised $8,000 over four months, enough to grant two wishes. It was hard work, but when I saw photos of the smiling children, I knew it was all _______.

Every day I am getting a little bit _______ .I have proved to myself that I am a much stronger person than I thought I was. Nothing can stop me now! I want to go to college, and I know I will succeed there—and _______ . Difficulties may__________me a little longer, but I will get to that finish line.

During the coronavirus lockdown, a fifth-grade teacher contacted me asking for help. She was ________ with students not attending online class but her students all loved the story in my book. So she asked if I had any ________.

My immediate ________ was for me to do a weekly book club where I would read to the students. The idea was ________ by Mrs. Sandberg, my first teacher in America.

When I moved to America from Iran in 1972, I spoke seven words of English. Despite the language ________, I immediately loved school. My favorite part of the day was ________ lunch, when Mrs. Sandberg read to us. Her kind voice ________ me to magical places where animals could talk and where kids had grand adventures.

With this joyful ________, I started the club. At the first session, five kids ________. I read to them and tried to ________ a conversation. Whenever I asked a question, I was met with complete ________. The following week, a few more kids came; they ________ started responding, but with one-word answers. The next session, they gave ________ answers and more students participated in the conversations.

This club has quickly become the ________ of my week. I have gotten to know the students and grown fond of every single one of them. Reading out loud forces me to forget everything else for an hour. I recently wondered if our post-lunch reading hour had given Mrs. Sandberg a chance to forget her ________, too.