There would be no more conversations with him or celebrating birthdays, or Christmases. He won’t be here for my high school graduation or when I receive my Associates Degree.
It is hard to put into words how my grandfather’s death affected me. Medically speaking, his doctors were right when they said the cancer wouldn’t kill him, it was phenomena that took his life. I held his hand as he lay in a semi-comatose state in the comfort of his own home. On his last day, I read the sports page to him and even though he did not respond, I still shared the score of the Mariners game from the night before. Watching a loved one die is extremely difficult and especially at fifteen when I couldn’t even drive yet.
Since elementary school, I wanted to work in hospital and care for people, but I did not know what path to take. After my grandfather’s death it became clear that my goal would be to become an oncologist. The remaining time in high school and via the Running Start program, I have focused on the sciences, taking and loving Anatomy and Biology courses with a renewed purpose and hope for the future. I continued this journey this summer by obtaining my Certified Nursing Assistant license, which will provide a foundation as I pursue my studies in medicine. I have a passion for helping people, a desire to research with the goal of finding new treatment as well as working with others