“It might sound like a cliché, but this whole thing made we want to live life to the fullest,” she said. “That is the honest truth. It really makes you want to live your life.”

So Moat decided to get involved. And one of the first places she went was Colleges Against Cancer. And while she’s still a good student, she’s not afraid to live in the moment more.

“This has taught me that there’s so much more to life than finishing an essay,” she said.

MSU’s Colleges Against Cancer chapter hopes to match the success of its first year: $18,000. Members already surpassed their goal of teams. They hoped for 20 teams, and already have 27.