Trey Lamkins knows as well as anyone that you shouldn’t have to go through difficult times alone.
Working through his own grief during his mother’s battle with cancer, he started Husker Cancer Support to offer those affected by cancer a place to come together on campus.
“I know that there are people out there who, like me, need assistance or need someone to talk to,” Lamkins, a senior majoring in plant and landscape systems, said. “Cancer can be really hard to talk about — people deserve recognition for what they've gone through and the grief they’re experiencing.”
During his first year at Nebraska, Lamkins was struggling to be away from his mother after her diagnosis. Reaching out for support through New Student Enrollment and the College of Agricultural Sciences and Natural Resources, and obtaining a student worker position with Student Leadership, Involvement and Community Engagement helped ground him in a supportive environment on campus.
"My biggest fear in coming to the university was leaving mom,” he said. “By talking to people at NSE and around campus, I began finding support at UNL before I even started. Those early connections are a big reason why I've been able to be successful.”
Looking to reset after a challenging first year and be proactive toward his ongoing grief, Lamkins used his job with SLICE to start Husker Cancer Support, a community centered around support and outreach for those dealing with cancer in their lives.
A few months after the first event, Lamkins’ mother died. The event has since become a way for him to honor her legacy.
“My campus community became my rock,” he said. “They gave me a space where I could grieve healthily. Now, continuing this event is a way for me to honor her — I’m doing it for mom.”
After putting on three successful Husker Cancer Support events and occupying several other leadership roles on campus, he's learned that being honest about who you are and what your needs are is the best way to be able to show up for others.
"Being resilient, I think, means being the most authentic version of yourself — that’s how you’re going to make an impact,” he said. “If you’re struggling, there’s a group and community here that can help you.”
