Survivor Em

Hi, hey! Emily Rose here.

Elated to bring you these words and have a little “get to know me and my story” moment. I’ve always loved writing- it comes much more naturally to me, and each time I’m able to get my hands on a pen and paper or type away with my long, colorful nails (which are of course maroon and gold right now- I mean, it is FALL, right?!) my brain tends to spew any and all thoughts I have… which, if you’re trying to get to know ME, is one of the best ways, right?!

Where to begin???

I guess I’ll start with a bit of background information on myself. I am 22 years young, I’m about 5’3 and currently sporting a short, snow white, comb over on my head (how I got into this new “ice queen” look will be explained a bit later). I’ve been quite active my entire life. I grew up in a dance studio, learning work ethic from the time I was 3 and in itty bitty ballet shoes until now, walking around in my size 7 high heels. My dance instructors ranged from former superstars on Broadway to the Rockettes. Needless to say- I know almost every song and musical known to man, and probably even know a dance to go along with each one.

I began dancing competitively and growing to love the art of contemporary dance. Something about the soft, but hard-hitting vibe of it that drew me to it… similar to my personality, I like to think. Dancing my way through life, I continued my passion in college at the University of Central Florida on their dance team, KnightMoves. What an amazing experience! That only lasted a semester, as it led me to my newest journey and love: Fitness.

Now, throughout high school fitness had always been in my life. But my love for it would just continue to grow and grow until I saw myself one day really making a name for myself in the industry. My main goal has and will always be: empowering everybody to feel confident in their skin and to live a life of health, wellness, and happiness. Because after all, health IS wealth!!

From a yoga, Pilates and weight training loving 14-year-old girl to a 17-year-old entering college, I chose to major in Sport and Exercise Science to further my education in nutrition, health, wellness, and physical activity.

In college, I was given the opportunity to work at the front desk at a local Pure Barre studio in Orlando. I would memorize the classes and take them like they were candy. I’d sit at the front desk reciting word-for-word what the instructor would say, and I just thought, “THIS is what I want to do. I want to help others change their bodies, connect their minds, and leave a room or workout feeling powerful.” As a young, ambitious, wild Emily… I went for it. I asked about a teaching position, I was READY to go to training and to have this be something that I dedicated myself to. Well, it didn’t work out exactly how I had hoped… but as I believe “everything happens for a reason” … something better came along.

A young, ambitious, wild Em found a new adventure at CycleBar and the rest was history. A new love story began. I found my place. I was welcomed with open arms and the goal in the back of my head: instruct. Teach. Change lives. I wrote down “cyclestar” in my journal and within a year came 19-year-old CycleStar Emily. That day was monumental for me, especially after having doors shut on me due to being “too young” or “too inexperienced” … I got my opportunity. I smile as I write this because I am forever grateful for those who were a part of my journey and supported me, gave me a chance.

Let’s rewind a bit. Let’s rewind to 2015.So, what is significant about 2015 in MY story? Well, 2015 is the year I was first diagnosed with cancer. Young, ambitious, wild Em is now a cancer fighter. Stage 2B Melanoma was my diagnosis. A dancer, student, cheerleader… a baby. That news was hard. Harder for my family than myself, I’ll admit. I didn’t understand “cancer” at the time. I didn’t understand how someone so young could be diagnosed with such a thing. “Isn’t cancer something old people get?”……

I received surgery to remove it, recovered for months, and then went on about my life like nothing had ever happened. Brushed it off of my shoulders….and here is where we fast forward back to the end of 2019. Ohhhh, 2019. 2019 was a YEAR.2019: Young, Ambitious, WILD Em was thriving in college, going out all the time, living her best life exercising, instructing, sharing my knowledge and learning, meeting new people, making connections, and traveling. I would get sick every so often, strep throat. I would also get these large migraines that would be crippling. My anxiety was through the roof daily.

I started realizing that I wasn’t ok.2019: I was diagnosed with Stage 4 Metastatic Melanoma. It had spread to my brain, body, lungs, pancreas, ovaries, bones, muscles… you name it, I had cancer on it.I came home on a Friday to get an MRI and “check to ensure everything was fine” and planned my return to my life early the next day… but I never went back. I turned 21 fighting Stage 4 Melanoma and in August of 2020 I turned 22, still fighting Stage 4 Melanoma. I’ve been through every treatment you can imagine and at 20- well and at any age 10, 50, 70, 90, I can promise you… it wasn’t fun.From the VERY beginning, my mindset was: everything happens for a reason. This is a bump in the road and you WILL survive and come out of the other side even stronger and with a story to tell.

Here I am, almost 2 years later, a trip to hell and back, post- Clinical Trial, and on the way to “Cancer Free”, sharing my story. The first thing I did after receiving my diagnosis was purchase a camera and photo editing apps to share my story. From day 1, I’ve kept the world involved with my journey through Instagram and YouTube, I’ve tried to provide an inside look at what it’s like to fight cancer but ALSO live your life to the absolute fullest. I’ve shared to show that no matter what your situation is, there does come a rainbow after the storm. I’ve shared to show that bad things can happen to good people, but we rise up and we fight back, we don’t let it conquer us because we are stronger than that.

I am now proud to say that I am in the process of defeating this beast called cancer, and I am accomplishing all of those goals that I had set out to accomplish and then some. I have met the most incredible people along the way including my boyfriend, Luke, of almost 1 year who met me at my worst and somehow fell in love with the girl with cancer. That is a whole other story that I think I’d need endless amounts of words to tell. I have started my own online coaching business called EMPWR, where I can help people from different states, countries, or right here in my hometown to achieve the body of their dreams and learn to love their bodies, while fueling them properly and lifting up others during their journey as well. I am building this business to help others GROW, and there is nothing that makes my heart happier.

I believe I am surviving and defeating this disease because of my mindset. I strive to lead with positivity and believing that everything in life happens for a reason and I can share hundreds of reasons that I believe this crazy, scary, overwhelming and empowering journey has happened to me. I will be here to tell every single one of those reasons.

I’ll leave you with this: take chances, take risks, live your life every day to the absolute fullest, health is WEALTH, love on your friends and family, never take anything for granted, do things that make you feel your absolute best, don’t let anyone hold you back EVER, don’t settle,… because you are STRONG and you are unique and you are amazing. You deserve the best!!

Xx Em