People That Inspire Me: Petrina Scaglione
I decided a few months ago that I want
to do almost like a series of posts about people who inspire me, who
are always there for me, and/or are just important to me for many
different reasons. I actually asked the first person I am going to
write about today if she was okay with being the subject of my blog
probably 2 months ago now, so she probably figured I forgot about
writing this post. Her birthday is actually tomorrow, so I figured
what better of a time to do this post... but it is also in a way a
follow up to last week's post. The very first person who has had a
tremendous influence on my life is Petrina Scaglione.
I met this girl back at orientation in
college and we pretty much became inseparable. My second day of
college classes (her first) I recognized her waiting to go into my
first class. I dropped my metal water bottle which made an
embarrassingly loud sound and soon after she's asking if she can sit
with me because she recognized me as well. We started making small
talk and soon realized we had almost every class together that day
and became fast friends. I swear this girl is a mini version of me!
We pretty much immediately hit it off and have been good friends ever
since! We would always spend time between classes gossiping or she
would laugh at me for playing a stupid game on my computer while she
tried to do school work (I still can't make those potions on
Pottermore girl!). It honestly feels like just yesterday we were
college freshman going to plays for theater class and filming our
mock movie trailer for the same class. Honestly so many memories are
flooding back to me just as I type this out that I could go on and
on! Meeting Trina, it honestly felt like we had known each other all
our lives! I couldn't imagine coming out of college with a better
friend.
Although Trina is seriously such an
inspiring person all on her own, I want to fast forward to spring
semester of 2013, our Junior year. I remember Trina texting me
letting me know she had a doctor's appointment the next day so she
wouldn't be there in the morning. I honestly thought nothing of it. I
went to my first few classes then took my spot on the floor with a
few other friends in the hallway of the English building (before we
got our own lounge, which I am pretty sure our loud group inspired)
to eat my lunch as usual. When Trina finally got to school that day
she didn't have good news.
Trina informed us that although there
were more tests being done, that she indeed had cancer. I remember
being shocked and almost immediately going to anger. How could
someone who so selflessly shaved every inch of her hair off and
donated it to a cancer fund almost exactly a year prior be diagnosed
with the same thing? Trina handled it like a champ. She was nothing
but jokes and positive thoughts every time I saw her. I know she had
bad days, who wouldn't in that situation?! But if I was in her shoes
I would have completely shut down. I admire her so much for grabbing
cancer by the horns and destroying it! She kind of tried to play it
off like it wasn't as big of a deal as it was. I remember finding out
once she beat it that it was a lot worse than she told us. My initial
reaction to this was being upset with her, but now I only see this as
strength. I hope to be even half as strong as you are someday Trina!
I tried to visit Trina whenever I
could. Just because she had this sickness, it didn't change the
person inside one bit! I really don't get what people don't
understand about this. I vividly remember our very first “fake
Christmas party” at the Scaglione household. We were doing our gift
exchange, and
Trina's mother, Gail, hands me and Nicole (Trina's
other very good friend whom I consider a dear friend now as well)
each a small box to open. She started tearing up as she began
thanking both of us for standing by Trina through the whole battle.
We all were crying after that. In the boxes were small glass angels
which I still cherish as much as that memory. It has a very special
place in my bedroom.
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| Trina, myself, and Nicole. |
I am rambling a bit here but it is so
easy to do with this girl! She finds out she has cancer and not only
beat it, but kept her head up the entire time! She unfortunately had
to take a leave from school for more than a year. I was so sad to no
longer have this girl (who was with me almost every day of our
college careers so far) with me at school anymore. I still had many
of the people I met at the beginning with me though at this point,
however, I was so sad to not have Trina there with me everyday
anymore. When she returned to school it was my last semester and a
lot of her friends were graduating then too. I know that had to have
been hard. Most people in that place never would have gone back to
school. I honestly don't think I would have. Not Trina! She went back
and walked across that stage for commencement back in May of this
year. She didn't just graduate though, she also graduated with high
honors as well as an award. Words cannot even begin to describe how
proud I was of her for that!], and was absolutely honored to be part
of her special day and sit with her amazing parents to watch her
cross that stage!
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| Right: My college graduation, 2014 Left: Trina's college graduation, 2016 |
This amazing woman not only stayed
positive through probably the hardest thing to happen in her life,
but she got through it with flying colors. I admire her so much and
am so honored to not only know her but to call her one of my very
best friends. I am so inspired and proud of her strength and hope to
be more like her! Her story makes me feel like I can achieve
literally anything! I felt like there was no other person to be the
subject of my very first post about people who inspire me.
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