When Nina Zambianchi, a junior at UCLA, was diagnosed with Hodgkin’s Lymphoma during her sophomore year at Rye High School, her greatest worry was pretty typical for a 15-year-old.

“It probably sounds funny, but I was most concerned with the fact that I would most likely lose my hair,” Nina said. “I was sad and scared of course, but losing my hair was a tangible sign that I was different — and struggling with something serious.”

Like many teens, Nina had always been happy being one of the pack — doing the typical things high school students do. She loved hanging with her friends, playing field hockey and soccer, and she genuinely enjoyed her classes and teachers at Rye High School. Diagnosis aside, she was determined not to fall behind – or by the wayside.

“My teachers and parents wanted me to take time off school, but I just wanted to keep pace with my friends,” Nina said.

So, despite having to travel to Memorial Sloane Kettering in Manhattan twice a week from December 2018 through March 2019 for chemotherapy treatments, Nina did all she could to stay academically on track. “I wanted to maintain some form of normalcy and pushed to stay in school part time,” she said.

Chemo, however, took a toll. Her hair fell out, she developed significant gastrointestinal issues, and she could not play sports or attend gym class. The treatments also compromised her immune system, preventing her from participating in large group activities.

“It was kind of like a pre-covid experience for me, as I had to follow many of the same regulations,” she said. “I had to avoid social gatherings, especially with the measles outbreak in 2019.”

While Nina credits close friends and her family with keeping her going, she admits to never really addressing or opening up about the challenges she faced. Many had no idea the physical and mental trials. “I didn’t communicate much at the time about what I was going through,” she said. “I just focused on the treatments.”

Nina’s Mom, Carola, who describes her daughter as “social and easy going,” said “Nina tried to stay positive. She never ques- tioned, ‘Why me?’ She never felt sorry for herself.”

Following her daughter’s lead, Carola, tried to stay upbeat and keep things as ‘normal’ as possible for her young family. In addition to Nina, Carola and her husband, Marco, have a son, Luca, 17, and a daughter, Zoe, 13.

But Carola, of course, worried about the toll on her daughter. “Stepping off course, particularly in a place where not many deviate from the well-trodden path, is hard,” she said. Seeing Nina internalize and quietly process her struggles has made Carola sensitive to young people who may be going through unseen medical and mental crises.

“Whether its addiction or depression, or wrestling with the aftermath of a cancer diagnosis, these kids are not like everyone else,” she said “They develop a different perspective and come through wise in different ways — as do their siblings.”

That perspective and wisdom shapes who Nina is — and also, who she hopes to be. A psychology major, Nina aspires to work in health care: “Whether that be a psychologist, doctor, or some sort of health care professional, I hope to make a difference and to help people,” she said.

Nina is already well on her way to making a difference in the lives of many. As a member of a club that pairs UCLA students with children in underserved communities in Hollywood, she meets weekly with a ‘mentee’ with whom she plays games and offers support and encouragement to pursue higher education.

In recent months she has worked on behalf of a cause that hits a little closer to home. Though reluctant in high school to talk about her diagnosis and the many challenges it posed, starting college life in a new and very different setting forced her to see and to speak more openly about her struggles.

“In Rye everyone knew, so I didn’t have to address it, but once I got to college, I realized that while my experience with Lymphoma does not define me, it is a part of who I am,” she said. “Students naturally ask questions about your past. What sports did you play in high school — how did you spend your time?” Answering them openly and honestly has allowed Nina to connect with many others who have been touched by Lymphoma and other health challenges.

Her willingness to share her story motivated her to join the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Club at UCLA. Each year the club participates in a 10-week fundraiser called the Visionaries of the Year Campaign, an annual competition among other LLS clubs in the Los Angeles area. On March 9, Nina not only celebrated five years in remission, but also kicked off this year’s campaign, which wraps up on May 18.

While Nina, her family, and her team at UCLA continue to work toward a fundraising goal of $ 90,000 for LLS research and patient support, the awareness and camaraderie the campaign fosters have made the most lasting impression.

“It’s amazing how many people it affects,” said Nina, whose strawberry blonde hair now falls well below her shoulders.

To learn more about, or to con-tribute to, Nina’s LLS 2024 Campaign please visit: https://pages.lls.org/voy/calso/losanglls24/nzambianchi