Despite being diagnosed with cancer at the tender age of five, she has defied the odds and persevered through three separate occurrences of the illness, emerging triumphant each time.
Hollyn Peterson, a student from Wisconsin, is joyously celebrating her graduation from university despite bravely facing the harrowing diagnosis of cancer on three separate occasions. This weekend, she will mark this remarkable milestone by delivering an inspiring speech.
At the tender age of five, Ms. Peterson received her first cancer diagnosis, thrusting her into a battle that demanded chemotherapy treatments and significant surgical procedures. As a result, she endured the absence of 650 school days throughout her courageous journey.
Despite the initial successful treatment, the cancer resurfaced a few years later, adding to the challenges faced by Ms. Peterson. Reflecting on her experience, she shared with ABC7, “I relapsed, and it came back when I was seven, and then unfortunately, it came back a third time.”
During her prolonged absence from school, which amounted to over 650 days, Ms. Peterson faced uncertainty upon her return. However, her indomitable spirit and unwavering determination propelled her forward, particularly in her pursuit of art.
Recalling a pivotal conversation with her high school art teacher, she recounted, “‘You’re going to go to college and you’re going to go to art school, and you’re going to become an art teacher.’ I was like, ‘No, I’m not.’”
Ms. Peterson’s passion for art persisted throughout her journey. Initially driven by aesthetics, she gradually embraced the emotional depth of her artwork as she progressed through her college years. She explained, “As a freshman here, I was very much like, ‘I want it to be pretty. I want it to look nice,’ and as the years went on, it was more about the emotion that I was getting. It gives me catharsis when I’m painting.”
One individual who played a pivotal role in supporting Ms. Peterson throughout her journey was Greg Porcaro, an associate professor of art and design at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater.
Mr. Porcaro expressed his immense pride in her achievements, highlighting her exceptional academic performance and her remarkable character as a human being. He described her as genuinely kind, grounded, and humble, qualities that he attributed to the challenges she faced at an early age. He marveled at her extraordinary resilience.
As she approaches her graduation, Ms. Peterson aims to inspire her fellow students to persist in pursuing their dreams. Offering a glimpse into her speech, she shares, “You were able to accomplish this, and you’re here at graduation and look at what you have done.”
