In this mini episode of ICANCERVIVE, I revisit a story that’s followed me for decades. It was a single grade that became a lifelong memory.

As a high school student, I never had formal art training. Yet I found myself spending countless hours in the art classroom with my teacher, Sunshine. Eventually, I convinced her to take me on for an independent study, where my only evaluation was a weekly project. One assignment, a contour drawing of my hands, became legendary in my mind, graded with a mysterious 98%.

Years later, during Sunshine’s first cancer diagnosis, that grade became a point of debate between us and a playful argument that lasted decades. It wasn’t until 2022, near the end of her life, that we finally uncovered the truth.

This episode is more than a story about a grade, it’s about friendship, the joy of art, and the humor and love that can persist even through life’s hardest moments.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

• A nostalgic look back at independent art study in high school

• The story of a single assignment and a “98%” that never left my memory

• How humor and friendship can leave a lifelong impact

• Reflections on laughter, memory, and celebrating moments that matter

Join me as we explore:

• Why a simple grade can hold deeper meaning

• The lessons we carry from our teachers and mentors

• How love and laughter shape our journey, even through loss