My Talk will be about my story of getting diagnosed with cancer both at age four and at age fifteen and how I didn’t let sadness or anger consume me. Instead I learned to have a positive attitude through the rough times and that ultimately helped me find my passion for giving back. I will talk about my work with UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital. The overall lesson I want the freshman to take away is that the only thing you can control in times of hardship is your attitude and how that positive attitude will allow you to grow from the hardship. Sarah Banholzer is a senior at Amador Valley. She is the Editor-in-Chief of AmadorValleyToday.org, Amador’s online news website, and the president of the Amador Valley Make-A-Wish Club. When Sarah is not doing homework, she enjoys watching her favorite show, The Office, spending time with her friends, coaching volleyball, and listening to all her favorite albums on her record player.
At age 10 Sarah created her organization, “Be Strong and Give Back Happiness”, where she organizes annual fundraisers to raise money for UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Oakland. With the help of her friends and family, Sarah has now raised over $70,000 for the hospital. Sarah’s true passion is giving back and she hopes to continue pursuing her passion for years to come. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at
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