Hunter Maher
2024 Scholarship Winner
UC Santa Barbara – Environmental Science

From the earliest days that I can remember, my mom was my rock in life. Each and every night, she would read to me. First, she would read a chapter or two from a children’s book. Then, she would tell me about her day. My mom is a pediatrician, so I have heard tales of medical miracles and challenges from a very young age. This nightly ritual not only fortified our bond but also instilled in me a profound respect and curiosity for the medical field. Her stories were my first introduction to the world of medicine. Beyond her stories, my mom’s love and support were constants that guided me through the unpredictability of childhood. Her unwavering presence provided stability as we navigated the stress and turmoil caused by my father’s alcoholism and adapted to my parents’ separation. Through every hardship, my mom was there—my source of strength and a beacon of hope. 

Then, when I was 10 years old, it all came crashing down. I was terrified when she told me and my sisters of her diagnosis. Terrified of losing the only mom I had. But the worst part wasn’t the fear, it was the stigma. I went to a small school, and news of my mom’s diagnosis spread rapidly. Most kids didn’t understand what breast cancer was. Their mom didn’t need to teach them words like metastasize or what lymph nodes are. They only knew that my family was different, and it was better to stay away.

Our selection to attend a Little Pink Houses of Hope retreat came at a crucial time. Our whole family was thrilled to attend the retreat in Orange Beach, Alabama in 2017. The retreat was magical. Not only did our family get to relax by the ocean and the pool, but I was finally able to hang out with other kids that understood what my family was going through. We played board games, went paddleboarding, and painted! My favorite part of the whole trip was watching the solar eclipse from the balcony of one of the towers we stayed in. When we finally had to go home, I left with a much more profound respect for life and health.

Inspired by the beauty of nature and the tranquility I found in outdoor activities, my interests veered towards environmental science. This pivot was reinforced by my engagement with environmental science in school and in Boy Scouts that made tangible impacts on communities and ecosystems. My commitment to this new path was solidified by the understanding that the health of our planet is intrinsically linked to the well-being of its inhabitants. Majoring in environmental science may seem a step removed from the direct path of healthcare. However, the connection between environmental health and human health is undeniable. The Little Pink retreat inspired me to learn how lifestyle and environmental factors contribute to human health. 

The lessons of resilience, love, and hope instilled in me by my mother, both before and after her diagnosis, have shaped my life’s trajectory. While the fear of loss once threatened to overshadow my dreams, the experiences at Little Pink Houses of Hope and my evolving passion for environmental conservation have redefined my path. In college, I am ready to embark on a mission to protect and heal our planet, carrying forward the legacy of strength and compassion that my mother exemplified.