But, things changed when our family experienced a devastating and unexpected loss.  Everything just stopped, I didn't know what to do, and I didn't know what to say. It felt like it was the final straw to the constant challenges I was facing - it pushed me to my limits. Just like Jesus, carrying the cross in Calvary, I too, felt that I was carrying a burden too heavy to carry. This death came at a perfect time, five days before the Midterm Examinations. Just like a cycle, I had to grieve, study, and repeat. 

Amidst all this, I thought, maybe what I’m going through right now, will serve as my Easter testimony. In the middle of grieving, this gave me a sense of hope. Not to sound too “Christian-y” but I was reminded of how the resurrection of Jesus Christ tells this to us, as well. Our suffering, hardships, and pain won’t last forever. This gave me a sense of hope to move forward. Just like how the disciples hoped for Easter to come, we too hope and believe that what we are going through right now is not permanent. 

What then, is hope? It is not just a four-letter word used as a synonym for optimism, it is more than that. Hope helps us navigate through the challenges of life and motivates us to overcome them. With hope, it encourages us to see things from a different perspective without invalidating what we are going through. 

When everything seems lost, hope serves as a light, telling us that all will be well. It reminds us to believe again, to push forward despite the uncertainty of the future, and to press on knowing that things will be better. Hope allows us to be resilient, steady, and strong. Simply, hope is powerful. 

Right now, we may face insurmountable problems that sometimes feel like we can’t survive. We are at the crossroads facing our own Everest, carrying our crosses and burdens that most of the time feel too heavy to carry or too hard to overcome. Despite all this, know that there is hope to live for.