Back in 2016, I found out that I had cancer. The first thing I said was, "I have to be strong." My mom wanted to do something special for me after we found out. I was 18 and decided that I was ready to get a tattoo, and I already knew I wanted the elephant tattoo.

We actually found out that elephants are a sign of good luck and strength, so It was a perfect idea! I would be able to carry strength and good luck with me through my treatments and sickness. So, I got the elephant tattoo and my mom got it as well.

I remember wanting an elephant tattoo back in 7th grade. I knew exactly where I wanted it, on my wrist. I told all of my friends and my family who kept trying to talk me out of it, simply because I didn't have a reason to get an elephant tattoo. At the time, I just wanted it because of my love for elephants.

Even before then, I absolutely adored elephants from a young age. They are loving and caring animals. I remember when I started to like them in around 6th grade. I had stuffed animals and I had pictures of them in my room.

After seeing them walk the streets of Thailand in photos and videos of them in safaris in Africa, I decided that I want to see them in the wild. Seeing them in the zoo is simply not enough and it saddens me to see them trapped in cages. I even looked into volunteering at an elephant rescue group in Africa. It would be a dream!

Elephants have also been special to me because I'm a huge Disney fan, and obviously Dumbo is my favorite character. He has huge ears and big eyes; I just adore him. I saw the new Dumbo live-action movie and it was so precious! I definitely have my own little collection of Dumbo plushies.

The University of Alabama's animal is an elephant and a lot of people think my elephant tattoo has to do with that. And sure, maybe it is a little bit because my family are Alabama fans, and maybe that's another reason why my mom got the tattoo with me, but for me, it was just a coincidence because I've loved elephants long before we moved to Alabama.

I love having a tattoo of this amazing creature because it reminds me every day of how blessed I am. It's so special to share this tattoo with my mom as because this was a tough time for both of us. Even if I do change my mind in the future about what my favorite animal is, I know that this tattoo is special in its own way.