Michaela Is Like A 'Phoenix': Lacey Graduation Shoutout

LACEY, NJ — Graduation is a major milestone and deserves to be celebrated! That's why Patch and T-Mobile have teamed up to recognize our community's outstanding 2024 graduates.

This submission comes from Mandy Strauss who nominated Michaela of Lacey.

Graduate’s name

Michaela

What grade is the graduate finishing?

Associates Degree

What school is your graduating student graduating from?

Ocean County College

How do you know your graduating student nominee?

Michaela is my oldest daughter.

Tell us why they deserve to be nominated!

Michaela is such an inspiration to not only me, but also her younger sister and brother, as well as others who know her. Michaela was diagnosed at 16 with Juvenile Rheumatoid Arthritis. At times, the pain in her joints becomes debilitating. As a drummer (was a LTHS Marching Lion for 5 years as a member of the drum line as well as concert band) it is heartbreaking when she has trouble holding her sticks. Regardless of the pain, she always pushed through and played. Michaela had to give up her last year of Allstar Cheer due to the hip issues from the JRA. That broke her heart. My daughter worked 2 jobs while attending high school, taking AP and Honors classes as part of the Leadership Academy of Humanities. She maintained honors through covid and graduated within the top 15% of her class. The day of graduation, we unfortunately had to lay her step mom (and my best friend) to rest due to a tragic 6 month battle with lung cancer. Michaela surprised me and chose to take a similar path education and career wise as I am on. She began her course work to earn a CADC (Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor) certification and Social Work degree. While making the President's List at OCC, Michaela not only went to school full time, she worked full time for a daycare and then accepted a position as a Counselor Intern enabling her to begin working on her hours required for her CADC license. During this time, she also receives monthly infusions at JSUMC for the JRA. Without the infusion each month, Michaela would not be able to participate in life at all. Her joints would swell, lock up and cause such excruciating pain, she would not be able to get out of bed at times. She has also stepped up, on her own, to help out as much as she can with her 12 year old sister and 5 year old brother when the autoimmune illness I have has landed me a hospital stay. I was hospitalized 5 times between January 2022 and March 2023, at one point spending a day in ICU due to pneumonia and a blood infection. The biggest blow came October 10th 2023. I (her mom) was diagnosed with Breast Cancer. Originally referred to as "an easy fix", it has been anything but easy. Michaela has been by my side while having surgery to remove the tumors and sentinel lymph nodes. Cancer was detected in those lymphnodes so the ancillary lymphnodes were then removed and biopsied. Having to tell Michaela that the cancer broke through the lymphnodes themselves into surrounding tissue was devastating. It was now Stage 3 and intense chemotherapy followed by radiation would be needed. Through all of this, Michaela maintained working full-time, attending college full-time and not only making the President's List, she was also asked to be inducted into Psi Beta, the Community College National Honor Society of Psychology. Michaela's days begin at 4am. She works from 5am until about 2pm and then attends college classes and/or works on school work. She does not walk in her door until 9:00pm most nights.
There has also been other life events during this time such as losing her Great Grandmother June 2023, and other things life throws out there. She always held her head high, pushed through, overcame and has grown into such a wonderful woman who is so passionate for her field of study and work that it shines through and is evident to anyone who speaks with her about it.
Being her mom aside, I do not know many people, myself included, who would be able to accomplish all Michaela has and still keep reaching for the stars, having been dealt this stack of cards.
I cannot find the words to express how proud I am of her, all she has accomplished thus far and how incredibly blessed I am to be her mom. She is truly inspirational and one of the most passionate, driven, goal oriented, not a mean bone in her body, determined, kind hearted, empathetic and dedicated people I have ever known. She is on to Stockton this fall.

What's one thing you want everyone to know about your graduating student nominee?

One thing I want everyone to know about Michaela is that she let's nothing hold her back. No matter the challenge or set back, regardless of type, Michaela is very much a Phoenix. Out of the ashes she not only rises, she soars!

Congratulations on your achievements, and all of our best wishes to you in the future, Michaela!

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Know an outstanding student who deserves a shout-out?

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