Losing a loved one is one of the hardest things a person can go through, and when I lost my dad, it felt like my whole world had fallen apart. Everything that once seemed important suddenly didn’t matter anymore. One of those things was raising money for prom and graduation. At first, I wanted to give up. How could I focus on something like a school event when I was dealing with so much pain?

Prom and graduation are milestones that many students look forward to, and before losing my dad, I was excited about making memories with my friends. But after he passed, I lost my motivation. The thought of planning, fundraising, and putting in the effort felt impossible. I didn’t see the point. However, as time went on, I realized that my dad would have wanted me to keep going. He always encouraged me to work hard and enjoy life, even when things got tough. Instead of giving up, I decided to push through in honor of him.

With the support of my family, friends, and teachers, I decided to start Raising money by putting together a go fund me , and reminded myself why I was doing this. It wasn’t just about a dance or a ceremony—it was about celebrating everything I had overcome. My dad may not be here physically, but I know he would be proud of me for continuing to move forward.