But it is those who have sat in my office, trusting and allowing me to have a role in their personal journey to whom I give credit for instilling in me a deep sense of purpose.

For me, advocacy happens on many levels. When you sit across from someone who is newly diagnosed with cancer, working to navigate the health care system while adjusting to life-altering news, you become an advocate. When you have the opportunity to join with other organizations and feel the collective power derived from uniting around a common goal, you become an advocate. When you observe a gap in services and recognize an opportunity for growth, you become an advocate. When you know there is work to be done, you become an advocate.

At CancerCare, I am the Young Adults Program Coordinator. Our services, provided by professionally trained oncology social workers, are free of charge and include counseling, education, financial assistance and practical help. Because I know the issues faced by young adult survivors are unique, I advocate for distinct age- and need-appropriate programming within my organization. On an individual level, I help clients craft ways of advocating for themselves within a variety of settings from the hospital to the school to the workplace. It is in these private moments, supporting a patient's ability to find their own voice, call upon their individual strengths and keep moving forward that I am inspired again and again.

I have the privilege of being a charter member of the Young Adult Alliance, a group of over 60 member organizations, including the Children's Cause for Cancer Advocacy, which are working together to raise awareness and effect positive changes for young adults with cancer. There is a passionate commitment from the professionals involved focused on advocating around research, clinical trial participation, public awareness and service delivery. Uniting with this professional group renews my dedication, informs my focus and reminds me of the importance of the work to be done.