Being only a Junior, Kayla Sanchez’s journey in high school has been anything but atypical. As a freshman Sanchez faced an unimaginable loss when her mother passed away due to a long fight against colon cancer on September 11, 2022. When asked about the toughest emotions she dealt with during the time she lost her mother she said, “Probably allowing myself to grieve, I feel all the emotions were hard to deal with because it was hard for me.”
School was never a problem for Sanchez, she got the grades and even though she struggled in subjects like English she still strived in academics, but losing her biggest supporter deeply affected her as a student. She struggled with the absence of her mother and the thought of school started to seem like a chore. “I was kinda out of it and school wasn’t my top priority,” said Sanchez.
Being in Sanchez’s shoes has never been easy. “It was hard seeing my mom going through cancer,” Sanchez said when asked what growing up for her was like. “My toughest challenge was going to the hospital with her when she would get her surgeries.”
As a freshman Sanchez felt the impact of losing her mother and she described her grieving process at the time saying, “I went out a lot, which probably wasn’t good.” Now as a Junior, Sanchez escapes her mental hardships through dancing. She mentioned that she not only participates in Ridgeview’s dance club, but she also does dancing outside of school at PinPoint Academy and is quite known here at Ridgeview for her experience in the arts.
Despite the passage of time, the pain of her mother’s death remains a significant part of her life, influencing her daily experiences and interactions. “Losing her made me realize that I need to stop being selfish and not take anyone for granted.”, added Sanchez. Regardless of the ongoing struggle, Sanchez has shown remarkable strength, finding solace in the memories of her mother and the unwavering support of her friends and family. “Advice I would give someone who’s grieving is that it’s not too late to start healing and allow yourself to grieve and feel all the emotions.” What she looked forward to the most in 2022 she said was, “Probably just to start healing and not dragging myself down cause that’s what I realized I was doing.” Sanchez’s story is one of resilience, as she continues to navigate the complexities of high school, “Three words to describe me I would say strong, selfless, and hopeful.”
