Sophomore Emily Young has been through more than the typical teen. When she was 9 years old, she lost her mom to stage IV metastatic lung cancer and life as she knew it was drastically changed.

“It’s definitely never something that anyone could be prepared for,” Young said.

Although losing someone special can be very difficult, Young views it rather positively.

“Always try to stay strong and never try to look back at it as something sad,” Young said. “Take it as a chance to learn something.”

Even though her father has since remarried, nothing could ever replace Young’s mother and everyday is proof of that.

“I loved her so much and was always with her,” Young said. “It made me stronger and built me up.”

Young’s experience has since served as a building block for how to live her life to the fullest.

“Her death is a reminder that life is precious,” Young said. “Never take it for granted.”