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Reading: Cancer Survivor Aya Osman Secures Full Scholarship to New York University to Pursue Neurology
Reading: Cancer Survivor Aya Osman Secures Full Scholarship to New York University to Pursue Neurology

Cancer Survivor Aya Osman Secures Full Scholarship to New York University to Pursue Neurology

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Festus Conteh
By Festus Conteh 35 Views 4 Min Read
4 Min Read

In a tale of resilience and triumph, Aya Osman, an 18-year-old African American student from Orange Park, Florida, has overcome cancer and earned a prestigious full scholarship to New York University. Her unwavering determination has led her to pursue her dream of studying neurology, a passion she has nurtured since the age of 12.

Despite facing the daunting challenge of cancer, Aya refused to let it derail her aspirations. She adopted a step-by-step approach to life, focusing on the present moment and refusing to be defined by her circumstances. To eradicate the tumour in her arm, she embarked on a rigorous six-month chemotherapy regimen, enduring sessions every three weeks, followed by three-day hospital stays.

Throughout her treatment, Aya demonstrated remarkable resilience by immersing herself in schoolwork and other activities as a means of distraction from the arduous journey she was undertaking. She acknowledged the therapeutic value of engaging in activities like playing the piano and focusing on her studies to alleviate the side effects of her diagnosis.

“Distracting yourself, whether through music or academics, really helps mitigate the impact of such a challenging diagnosis. It provides a sense of solace and keeps your mind focused on something other than the illness,” Aya shared.

Her unwavering commitment to education was evident as she diligently pursued her International Baccalaureate degree despite the grueling treatment schedule. With her mother’s support, Aya brought her laptop to the hospital, enabling her to stay connected with her studies while doctors monitored her health progress.

“I completed all my assignments on my laptop. I would be lying in my hospital bed while nurses checked my vitals, rushing to finish an essay for IB history or English. Having the distraction of schoolwork allowed me to focus on something else, providing much-needed respite,” Aya explained.

Aya’s dedication and tireless efforts paid off handsomely as she graduated from Ridgeview High School with the highest honors, achieving a remarkable Cumulative Grade Point Average of 4.77 and earning the distinction of Summa Cum Laude.

Her extraordinary achievements and indomitable spirit captured the attention of the Tom Coughlin Jay Fund Foundation, a charitable organization committed to supporting children battling cancer. Recognizing Aya’s exceptional resilience, the foundation granted her a full scholarship to pursue higher education at New York University.

Now cancer-free and two years into remission, Aya eagerly looks forward to her journey at New York University, where she plans to major in biology. Her scholarship serves as a testament to her remarkable strength and determination, highlighting her unwavering pursuit of a career in neurology.

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Aya Osman’s story is an inspiration to all, demonstrating the power of resilience and the ability to overcome challenges. Her unwavering commitment to education and her dreams serves as a beacon of hope, inspiring others to persevere in the face of adversity. As she embarks on her educational journey, Aya represents the epitome of courage and determination, a shining example of what can be achieved through unwavering determination and an unyielding spirit.

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Festus Conteh is an international youth that functions conveniently in all forms of writing including article writing, news, script, content writing, constitution and project/proposal writing. Writing is fun to Festus and has brought fame and recognition in his clime. In 2019, he was awarded best upcoming writer in an online writing completion that was organized by the Association of Sierra Leonean Authors (ASLA). After his impactful contribution to national development and cohesion through writing, he was nominated for the African Genius Award for the Best Writer in Africa Award Category an award he lost to one of the greatest African Writers - Chinua Achebe. In 2022, Festus was one of the applicants to the Commonwealth Youth Council (CYC) as Vice Chairperson (Policy and Advocacy) a process that met imperil feedback. As a freelancer, Festus has written articles for magazines, newspapers, and media houses and his articles have attracted big media houses including BBC, Aljazeera and Legit. Ng and is the Head of Programs at Salone Messenger a public relations firm based in Sierra Leone with the latest news and information. He is the founder of Africa’s Wakanda a platform that spotlight the beauty of Africa. Festus is also a perpetual volunteer in life-changing causes and has shown great commitment and dedication to being a catalyst and solution to the challenges faced by young people like himself. Festus currently serves as the Secretary General of the Africa Youth Leaders movement which is a network of youth between the ages of 20 – 30 years who have shown achievement, leadership potential and commitment to make a difference. Festus is also the Africa Focal Point of Youth for Change Initiative, which is a platform through which young people can access resources, be empowered and given the opportunity to grow to become useful members of society who will participate in the development of their communities and nation. Along with another Africa Youth platform, Festus has Co-Founded the Future of Africa initiative which is an advocate forum with the aim to bring together local and international socio-economic stakeholders to support innovative programs aimed at advancing the radical and practical progress of adoption awareness-vulnerable children and youth and youth leadership-through interlinking local, regional and international resources and opportunities.