Some members of Team FA pose with the FA breast cancer quilt during the October 1 Making Strides event. Teresa Noto, our top fundraiser, is in green at left along with her husband, Nino. (photo by Chuck Connolly)

Faced in 2014 with what she calls “everyone’s worst nightmare,” Teresa Noto, assistant professor of automotive technology, didn’t respond as many people would to hearing an advanced-stage cancer diagnosis.

Teresa didn’t go straight to denial. She didn’t break down and cry. She didn’t fire a litany of angry questions at her doctor. Instead, Teresa looked right at her sister when she got the news and said, “Well, I’m glad I’m not at stage 4. We can beat this!” Teresa knew she at least had the chance to fight hard and become cancer free and she was grateful for that opportunity. Not everyone with a cancer diagnosis gets that chance.

This incredibly positive attitude, combined with a fierce sense of solidarity, is what has buoyed Teresa through that terrible diagnosis, all the way through the pandemic and all the way through to the challenges facing SCCC today.

Team FA’s top fundraiser

Team FA participates in Making Strides Against Breast Cancer every year, at first at the massive Jones Beach event, but ever since 2017 we have walked with Making Strides of Eastern Long Island in Riverhead. Typically each year we raise between $1,000 and $1,500 for this important cause.

This year, however, we raised an incredible $2,961.53 as of the time of publication and are ranked 9th out of the 62 teams.

Our Making Strides coordinator Joan Cook indicated that the difference was mostly due to Teresa Noto, our top fundraiser this year, as well as others who each donated or raised $100 or more. “We walk as part of NYSUT, now in its 20th year as a flagship sponsor of the American Cancer Society. This year, despite the pouring rain, 19 team members attended the walk. A record number of 53 people supported Team FA by walking and/or making a donation.”

Family, friends and colleagues supporting Teresa resulted in her raising well over $500 for breast cancer research and support for patients currently dealing with this disease.

Strength and solidarity

Reflecting on those years of chemotherapy, radiation, a double mastectomy and all the accompanying stressors, Teresa attributes her victory to being “strong like a bull” and having a solid sense of solidarity.

“My mom had breast cancer,” Teresa notes, “so I went every year to get tested.” While the diagnosis came at stage 3, Teresa took heart in knowing her facts. “Nationally the statistics are that one in eight women will be diagnosed with breast cancer, but we also know that on Long Island the breast cancer survival rate is higher than average—thanks to the funds and awareness raised at events like these.”

In addition to taking heart in the strong medical care available in our region, Teresa says part of her mission is to talk with women who have been diagnosed and encourage them to push through and stay strong. “I know how awful it is,” she notes, “so I try to be a bit of an inspiration. They will get through it.”

Teresa’s colleagues here at SCCC helped her a lot too. For example, she says, “I was so self-conscious when I first started wearing a wig in classes.” Being in a small, tight-knit department helped her to keep a healthy perspective: “The guys just said, ‘Look, Teresa, you are in a classroom with a bunch of 18-year-old boys who love cars. They aren’t worried about your hair.’”

An attitude of gratitude

Life is short.

Teresa says she understands this maxim now more than ever. “Some people have been through hard things; they have experienced loss or a major life challenge. We need not waste time and energy on the small, unimportant stuff.” Maintaining a positive attitude, appreciating the kindness of others, being grateful for what we have—these are the things that keep Teresa strong. ”I feel so blessed. I am living each day to its fullest,” she declares.

Asked to share a bit of advice with our WORD readers, Teresa takes her time before responding.

First, you can still donate to Team FA's Making Strides totals for this year too. It is not too late! Teresa says she is grateful to everyone who donated this year. ”I sent out the donation link a bit last minute, but still people supported me. They know. They lived it with me. Their connection to me gave them a connection to the cause.”

”We really need to focus on what’s meaningful,” Teresa advises. ”If you’re sitting in a meeting, think about what good is going to come from whatever you are about to say next. If you really cannot think of any positive result, maybe you shouldn’t be saying it.”

It matters a lot that we think about our impact, Teresa says, in our various areas of influence, and she concluded with some thoughts about the state of the college.

”I know that I am very fortunate to even be here: in life and at the college. I love this college. We have a great environment. Most of our students love our professors, and it is just a great place to be.”

Sometimes, she continued, we can forget how lucky we are. We should appreciate our colleagues, listen to one another more and continue to make this a great place to be. We need to lean on one another to get us through any ”bad diagnoses” coming our way.