James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay

Erica Araujo

James “Rhio” O’Connor Memorial Scholarship Essay

Those who are diagnosed with illnesses tend to feel like their life is over for them as they know it. As for James O’Connor his feeling was the complete opposite. He was diagnosed with Mesothelioma, which is a rare form of cancer in which cancerous cells are found in the Mesothelium, a protective sac that covers most of the body's internal organs. James thought no it is not my time and I am going to get the most out of the rest of my life. I admire this man for fighting his illness and finding out all the answers. He did not just let it go he fought for the reason why and lived life to the fullest while doing so. To be honest I believe I would fall in to the percentage of people who just give up and wait to pass on. I feel I would be so afraid to die that I would spend all my time dreading that and not focusing on having fun and getting the most out of life. After reading about this man’s story, I have better feeling about passing away.
In 2001 I lost my grandmother to cancer. It began in her throat and spread to her lungs. When she was diagnosed she was told she only had six months to a year to live. My grandmother never talked or even seemed to think about her illness after she found out. She carried on like she was fine and had not a care in the world. She did live life to the fullest, traveling all over the world and seeing things she never imagined she would see. She lived two years prior to finding out about her diagnosis. I feel her situation is similar to James’s story because she was strong and never gave up.
James O’Connor was a man I knew nothing about before reading his story. Now that I have I truly feel inspired and feel more comfortable with the illness. When my Grandmother passed I was so angry that she was gone and didn’t understand why this had to happen to her. She was one of the many who didn’t deserve it, just like James. There is no explanation as to why some things happen in life though. Getting a chance to learn about another person with cancer and the obstacles they went through to extend their life like my grandmother did, has given me the closure I have needed. I know now that if I was ever diagnosed with any type of caner I would live life to the fullest and not worry about what could happen in my immediate or distant future. James’s story has motivated me to not take life for granted and never give up. Not only in death but in life as a whole. I tend to settle quite often, but now I know there is a different way. Don’t just settle, try your best. I want to enjoy my life and not dread what could happen to me in the future. James has helped me to do that.
If I was ever diagnosed I would follow in James’s footsteps by talking to many doctors and researching all about the disease. I would want to know what was going on with my body if this had happened to me. I don’t think that I would turn to chemo or radiation to cure me because watching my grandmother go through that treatment I wouldn’t want to be in pain during the last days of my life. My grandmother did stop treatment and it made her feel so much better. She travelled and did all the fun things in the last days of her life after stopping the therapy. I would rely mainly on my family and friends to help me get through my illness. I rely on my family now for a majority of issues in my life. I don’t know what I would do without them. I am sure that James had his family as well to help him get through his obstacle. I look up to this man now that I have had the chance to learn about him and what he did. If I was part of his family I would be so very proud of him and what he had done. I am glad that I had the chance to write this essay because it gave me a chance to learn about someone else and the obstacles in their life.