In remembrance of freshman Carly Christenson’s death last year, her parents’ friends banded together and created the Carly’s Dream fund to maintain her legacy among and beyond the community.

According to the Carly’s Dream website, Christenson hoped to study for a nursing degree at the University of North Dakota.

Her family and friends hope to keep her memory alive by providing students who share her drive and passion for helping others to afford nursing school.

Christenson’s memory will live on for years to come as the recipients of the Carly’s Dream award become nurses and provide aid to the sick.

The fund will impact everyone those nurses help. It will allow them to fight illness and prevent tragedies. It has already raised  more than $25,000, according to Mary Corbett, the fund’s founder.

Christenson’s close family members and friends have taken a tragedy and turned it into an opportunity to help people in memory of Christenson.

It is never healthy to dwell on dark times, but it is rare that an occurrence has such a profound effect on others.

Very few people are able to find silver linings in events like this, and using it as a catalyst for such a selfless project is the best way to honor anyone’s memory, especially Christenson’s.

Her family’s dedication to keeping her memory alive by extending opportunities to students who embody her vitality serves as an example for everyone in our community.

When confronted with situations like this, we should try to find a way to make something good out of it.

The way the founders of Carly’s Dream fund worked to turn heartbreak into hope is something all students can learn from. Even in tough times, we can all rally together as a community and make a positive and meaningful impact.

When confronted with inevitable hardship, it is important (though difficult nonetheless) to channel frustration and sadness into a constructive outlet.

The Carly’s Dream endowment is a remarkable example of taking a tragic event and making the most positive impact possible.