Teresa Payne: A Senior Profile Portrait by Marissa Jakubowski (2014)

My profile person I chose to do my film on is a woman named Teresa Payne. Teresa Payne has been married to her husband Jeff for 18 years and have two children; fifteen year old Nathan and twelve year old Maddie. In 2008, Teresa was diagnosed with stage 4 breast cancer. Since then, the combined support of her family, faith, and friends have helped her stay positive and continue to fight in her battle against cancer.

Having Teresa as my profile person was an amazing experience. Having a previous relationship with her family, when filming her and her family they were all very honest in their answers to all my interview questions and also very supportive of the whole process, and very excited to know when they would be able to see the end result. Also, I personally learned a lot just being able to talk and interview Teresa. The main thing I walked away with was faith; That if she can have cancer, and still be an amazing mother and wife and have a wonderful attitude, then I shouldn't use my problems as an excuse, but instead use them in an amazing way that could help others or become something great.