I believe in wishing. I believe that hope has the power to heal. I believe in keeping your face toward the sunshine and I believe that love is the greatest medicine. This past week, my sorority had the opportunity to celebrate with Colby, a five year old boy receiving a trip to Hawaii with the Make a Wish foundation. While the afternoon consisted of cupcakes, playing games, and preparing Colby for the trip of a lifetime, I later realized how much more it meant to each of us in Chi Omega.

After spending a week with the incredible kids at Camp Sunshine, I was shown the life lesson that when the world becomes filled with darkness, the best thing we can do is wish. We can wish for another chance. We can wish for a better tomorrow, and the only way we can see if that wish comes true is by continuing to move forward. While I am lucky enough to say that I have never faced a challenge as difficult as those working with Make a Wish or visiting Camp Sunshine, I do know how it feels to be urged to give up. We can all think of a time when something didn't feel like it was worth the struggle, no matter how large or small the issue. We cannot control every challenge we face, but we do have the ability to change how we handle them. When everything feels like it's falling apart, there is hope. Whether we are fighting an illness, struggling with family issues, or simply losing faith in something, hope has the ability to keep us going.

While this may sound cliche, my day spent with Colby brought a new light to Villanova's campus. Despite the stresses that came along with planning the event, managing our time between activities and studying, and making everything run smoothly, seeing the smile we were able to bring to his face was completely worth it. Because of Make a Wish, kids like Colby are not seen as victims, but as fighters. They're shown how the power of wishing and hoping can completely change a life. Colby's positivity and free spirit radiated through each room he visited, and his hope not only brought a smile to our faces, but inspired us all to help fight the good fight and bring hope to even more individuals.

Through Make a Wish, kids facing the most devastating of challenges are able to live their dreams. While my sorority, Chi Omega, is directly connected with the Make a Wish Foundation, there are so many ways that individuals can contribute to the cause. The power of a wish is incomparable. It can do something as simple as bring a smile to someone's face, or send a child on the trip of a lifetime. Foundations like Make a Wish, and our day with Colby, has only inspired me to help grant more wishes, whether that be through Make a Wish or random acts of kindness each day. There's nothing more rewarding than making someone else's dreams come true, and choosing to embrace hope and positivity can contribute to those successes. In a world filled with negativity, it's important that we inspire others to keep their face towards the light, and in doing so, we'll be able to see the difference we're making.

There are so many beautiful things in the world, and my hope for the future is that we continue to notice them. In doing so, we're reflecting the sunshine in more ways than one. Every wish is important to someone, and I want those who are more fortunate to strive to make the dreams of others become realities. I believe in wishing. I believe that hope has the power to heal. I believe in keeping your face towards the sunshine and I believe that we all have the power to grant wishes.