Jul 30, 2001 06:29 AM
1800 Views
I would have to say some of my years as a student, were some of the toughest times of my life.
When I was in kindergarten, I was exposed to mono and missed school for quite a few days. Then in second grade, while participating in gym class, a cafeteria table fell on me as well as a few other children. Luckily, we all recovered quite well from it.
By the fourth grade, I began to get really sick. I started losing my appetite and losing weight at a rapid pace. At the time, the doctors were unsure what exactly I had so they admitted into the hospital for an emergency appendectomy. After my operation, it was determined that I had a benign tumor. During this time, it was near the end of the school year, so I did not miss much school.
I went on enjoying my school life and friends until the eighth grade, when I started getting sick again. Some doctors thought that I had a nervous stomach, but it wasn't that at all. It wasn't until one doctor found a tumor in my stomach. This time, I was sent to Boston Children's Hospital, where I underwent another operation to remove the tumor and had to make the difficult decision at the age of twelve to have a hysterectomy. I spent two weeks at the Boston Children's Hospital and then spent over two months going to Hartford Children's Hospital receiving radiation therapy. I had to have a tutor and many of the students thought that I was not going to graduate because I had missed so much school. I proved them all wrong, and graduated near the top of my class.
I proceeded onto high school, attending a high school where there were over 500 students in my class alone. Much different than the twenty or so students that I was used to. Many of the students, I did not know, so I had to make new friends. I manage to hang out with the less popular kids and hid behind my school books. I had excellent grades, but I did not have the popularity that I so desired. I attended many school functions, but never with a boyfriend.
After high school, I went to a community college where I managed to make a bunch of new friends, including some guy friends. I felt more at home here and was able to experience what it was like to be appreciated by guys. During my first year of community college, I found a lump on my stomach. I underwent a same day operation and have not had any problems since with cancer.
I later graduated from community college with a degree in Liberal Arts & Sciences. It has not really been much use for me, but I feel it was an experience that I do not regret. I can honestly say that I have a degree.
