Aya Osman did not let her cancer diagnosis and chemotherapy treatment get in the way of her education, as the Orange Park, Florida, resident rose above those obstacles to eventually graduate from high school. She also had something extra to be grateful for as she received a scholarship to study at New York University.
According to Action News Jax, the scholarship Aya received was made possible by the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation – an organization that focuses on tackling childhood cancer through financial, emotional, and practical support. Aya told the news outlet that she always knew since the age of 12 that she was going to pursue a career in neurology after graduating from high school.
Though those aspirations were put in jeopardy after her cancer diagnosis, Aya still kept her eyes on her prize and continued living her life. “My older sister flew in from college, she noticed a weird lump and I was like that’s a cause for concern so once we got it checked out it was the worst news possible, cancer,” the 18-year-old recalled.
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Aya’s cancer has since been in remission for two years. Before that, however, she said she had to undergo chemotherapy once every three weeks for six months. Aya said her fear did not last as she found solace in her love for playing the piano.
“I’m pretty good at making situations lighthearted so I was cracking jokes here and there,” she added. Aya also credited her mother for helping her keep up with her studies during her cancer diagnosis, Action News Jax reported. While she was undergoing chemotherapy at the hospital, Aya said her mother visited her with her laptop every day so she could keep pace with what was happening in the classroom.
Aya eventually graduated Summa Cum Laude from Ridgeview High School. The icing on the cake was that she also received a scholarship to pursue a major in biology at New York University. The Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation reportedly assisted Aya after she reached out to them.
