Khrystyna Kozak
Hometown: Chicago, IL
University: University of Illinois
Major: Undeclared
BIOGRAPHY
My name is Khrystyna Kozak and I am currently a freshman in DGS. I was born in a little town in Ukraine with a population of about 400 people. When I was seven my family moved to New York and for the past 10 years I have been lucky enough to live in one of the greatest cities on the planet, Chicago. My past has shaped me and prepared me for my future. One of my best friends introduced me to biking this summer. We would take spontaneous trips to the lake at night. I consider myself somewhat creative, give me a pen and I can doodle something that looks pretty cool, most of the time. In my spare time I love to read, watch Netflix, shop, and hang out with friends.
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Cancer in an awful disease and just like every other person I wish there was a cure. My great grandfather died of pancreatic cancer. My grandfather had leukemia; before I was born he got very sick. My family thought he would be alive to see the birth of his first grandchild, unfortunately that didn’t happen. My grandfather died a few days before I was born. My mother told me about how excited he was to meet me; I wish I had the chance to know him. My aunt had breast cancer, I saw her after she had her double mastectomy. I will never forget the pain I saw in her eyes, it was beyond heartbreaking. Riding a bike 4000 miles might seem hard but it’s nothing compared to what a cancer patient faces everyday. I have always wanted to get involved in the fight against cancer but never knew where to start, this seems like the perfect place.