My dad (diagnosed at 38) passed away from Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) when I was 15 years old, and the lack of adequate life insurance had a profound impact on our family’s financial situation and my college plans. ALS is an expensive disease, and my family wasn’t financially prepared for the long-term care my dad needed. My dad’s illness and death left behind an overwhelming $311,000 in medical costs—an amount so staggering it makes college tuition impossible.

My dad started his career out of college making the best decisions he could with the resources he had. He secured a great job, and as part of his early financial planning, he purchased a small policy that seemed sufficient at the time. However, as his life progressed—he got married, started a family, and his career advanced—his life insurance policy remained untouched, unchanged from when he first entered the workforce. A policy that helps with burial costs does not provide financial support for a family’s long-term needs. This was a critical mistake and hit our family hard. ALS is a very costly disease that requires 24/7 caregiving, hundreds of thousands of dollars, not covered by insurance. My parents had planned responsibly for the future, but they hadn’t accounted for an illness capable of wiping out a lifetime of hard work in just a few short years. 

Hindsight is 20/20, and looking back, it’s clear that having adequate life insurance would have drastically changed our reality. Instead of facing financial uncertainty on top of heartbreak, we would have had the stability, security, and peace of mind to focus on grieving and healing as a family. My mom had to make difficult decisions—downsizing, taking on extra work, and pulling from savings meant for other purposes—all while trying to support us emotionally through an unbearable situation.

My parents didn’t intend for this to happen—Dad thought he had done the right thing by securing a policy early in his career. But the unfortunate reality is that life changes, and so do the financial responsibilities that come with it. As a result, I can see how crucial it is to make sure that life insurance is regularly reviewed and updated. It’s a lesson I’ve learned the hard way, and one I will carry forward in my own life. After the diagnosis, my dad wrote a book of life lessons for me and my brother. Page 145 reminds us to secure life insurance!

In light of the challenges my family has faced, I’ve taken on an active provider role. I’ve worked part-time jobs while balancing a rigorous academic schedule. I am an elite rock climber (devoting over 20 hours a week to training) on the Men’s U.S. National Development Team, with my sights set on the 2028 Olympics. I have been directly admitted to the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University—an esteemed honor—and will study Finance. This experience has taught me the importance of resilience, financial responsibility, and supporting my family during difficult times. I plan to finish well.