Hello world! My name’s Alicia. I’m currently an undergrad studying software engineering. From volunteering to mentoring young women in STEM design challenges to sending toast to space – and everything in between – I’ve become passionate about exploring technology and empowering individuals to explore the field. This advocacy has translated within my own experience with cancer. For me, self-advocacy had such an important role when I was in treatment. I hope that, by becoming a youth ambassador for Canteen, I can empower other young adults who have had an experience with cancer to share their voice about what they need with their health practitioners, family, friends and the people around them. When I was going through treatment my support worker shared with me ways to maintain my independence while still including my close network in my experience. By sharing my story, I hope to show how Canteen can support them through their experience just as they supported me.
As a youth ambassador, I hope to highlight that the process of returning to a sense normal after treatment is often difficult for patients, and how it’s more important than ever for individuals to have the support of family, friends and organisations like Canteen. I have a support person at Canteen who has allowed me to have someone to bounce my ideas and plans off, meet some incredible people through their online platform who I still speak to regularly, and attend programs when I needed a break from everything going on in life. I hope that by becoming an ambassador I can help even one person in finding the resources they need to make their experience with cancer less difficult.
