Although the dance marathon is long over, I cannot help but reflect on the lasting impact those 24 hours will have on me. When I first signed up for Buckeyethon, I had no idea what I was getting myself into, nor did I know that I would become so emotionally invested. The more involved I got with Buckeyethon, the more I found myself appreciating my life every single day.

For these reasons, I turn to you in admiration.

Thank you for continuing to persevere despite all adversity. Whether it be a lost limb, an inability to attend school, or not being able to be a "normal kid," you are stronger than you can possibly imagine. I had a fairly normal childhood with very few bumps in the road. I was able to go years without finding myself in the hospital and months without finding something I wasn't able to do. At a young age and even up until now, I don't think I ever realized what it meant to be truly sick.

Sure, I had the flu and the common cold, but never anything that turned my world upside down.

Thank you for maintaining a positive outlook even though it probably feels as though EVERYTHING is going wrong a lot of the time. Your resilience is inspiring. I find it absolutely remarkable that you don't allow a disease to define who you are. You continue to be yourself and make the most of what you can do. It's mind-blowing to think that a college student could have anything to learn from someone so young, other than the newest fads going around.

But you have taught me so much more.

Thank you for sharing your own stories and the stories of your loved ones. I know that this was no easy feat. Each story is filled with love and strength that is unparalleled by those from any other situation. It is the first-hand experiences that mean the most. They leave a lasting impact and are the ones that we carry with us day-to-day.

Most of us danced for 12 hours straight, with no opportunity to sit or nap.

We thought that we were exhausted.

In comparison to your daily efforts, we were only getting started. Your continuous battle is far more exhausting and tolling than that of a dance marathon. But I think that it put a lot of things into perspective for me. I was sore for days following the dance marathon and honestly, I feel like I'm still catching up on my sleep.

Thank you for fighting your battle with every ounce of your being and being an inspiration for thousands of college students. Thank you for being the motivation for us to continue fundraising every day. Hopefully one day there will be no more children on the 11th floor of Nationwide Children's Hospital and you all get to be a part of the Buckeye Family.

We will be waiting for you and fight alongside you every step of the way.