Undergraduate / "Payal was my role model and my inspiration" - University of Florida Essay [9]

Hello. I am actually new to this website. Below is my essay for the University of Florida. Its very personal.

Topic: Describe a meaningful event, experience or accomplishment in your life
and how it will affect your college experience or your contribution to
the UF campus community. You may want to reflect on your family, your
school or community activities, or your involvement in areas outside of
school.

Here is my Essay:

During the course of my childhood, my cousin Payal was one of my best friends. Even though we are only cousins, the relationship we had was almost sisterly like. She was my role model and my inspiration. I was always the one who would come to her with all my problems and she was truly the only person who was caring enough to take the time to comfort me when things were disproportional. I was blessed and grateful to have someone like her in my life.

In 2006, life took an unexpected turn for Payal. It was early September and I just got back from school, and I received the phone call. Payal had called to tell me that she was diagnosed with breast cancer. I dropped my backpack and fell on my knees. My hands began to shake as I was crying profusely on my kitchen floor. The last thing that went through my mind was having an innocent eighteen-year-old girl being diagnosed with breast cancer. I never thought that it could affect the ones I deeply loved and cared for. During the next twelve months I helped her conquer her fear of dying, but the cancer was eating her alive. She became weaker as the months passed. Her weight had dropped from 119lb to 98lb. It did not end with a happy ending either. On November 6th, 2008, she passed away in her sleep. The doctor came to deliver the news to our family. I ran to her room, fell next to her bed, and screamed, "wake up" repeatedly. My dad held me back as tears were burning across my face. Soon after I calmed myself down, I sat next to her lifeless body and promised her that I will find a cure to this disease so it does not attack other people out there who had big dreams, just like Payal.

After her death, I decided to volunteer at my local hospital and work with cancer patients. I was able to make a connection with them and I talked about the importance of building strength and to never give up. Volunteering had helped build my acceptance of Payal's death. My lifelong dream is to be a medical researcher and find a cure for cancer. I know it will be a long path, but the best place to get that type of education is at the University of Florida. The fact that University of Florida's, Shands Cancer Center, is ranked as one of the top research facilities in the country makes me choose UF as my primary target for college. My passion for knowledge will make my college experience a remarkable one, by making my academic studies a pleasure, not a chore. My ambition and dream is what makes me want to be a part of the gator nation.