Friendship
Using the "Be Your Best Self" principles of
met challenges of
serious illness
honesty, integrity, character, love, morality, hope and promise,
candidates for the 1999 Hawaii's Junior Miss were asked to
write an essay. Here is the winning essay. By Michelle CastellWe were just freshmen, trying to survive our first year of high school. My best friend Kim (not her real name) and I tried to fit in and be as inconspicuous as possible. We thought that if we could make it through our freshman year, we could make it through anything.
High school was going smoothly. Kim and I had the same classes, friends, interests, ambitions and dreams, and we both thought that we knew everything.
Then Kim started asking for little favors like asking me to look at her homework; she seemed to always need more help than usual. I considered us to be bright students, at the top of our class, so I was surprised that she needed help with simple algebra problems.
She soon developed an increase in thirst, had to urinate frequently and overly indulged in sweets and chocolates. I knew something was wrong so I suggested she see a doctor.
Kim returned from the doctor with bad news. He had suspected diabetes because of her frequent restroom trips, but diabetes was not the problem. As months passed and more tests were conducted, doctors finally found a tumor in her brain.
It was the darkest moment in our high school career. I couldn't believe it. Why did this have to happen to her? Why does this kind of thing have to happen to anybody? She was the sweetest person I had ever known. She was a true humanitarian: selfless, caring and considerate. She didn't deserve this.
The problem developed into larger issues. She could no longer remember simple things like showing up for meetings after school or people's names. It depressed me to see her go on like this, but she didn't seem to realize what was happening until her treatment began.
Kim underwent chemotherapy once or twice a week. There were times when she stayed in the hospital for days, undergoing tests. Her hair started to fall out and she felt too ashamed to go to school. Her mother bought her an expensive wig, but it didn't help.
Every day, I made it my duty to pick up her homework and help her as best as I could to keep her abreast of what was going on in class. My family and I prayed for Kim each night. I wished that I could do something more for her to ease the pain.
It has been four years since we received the devesting news, but I still remember the agony Kim and I went through. It is unfortunate for this to happen to anyone at any age, but I realized one thing. This experience made us stronger inside, and we learned that life is too precious to waste.
Kim has fully overcome her brain tumor, although she will never be the same again. She is still trying to overcome the emotional and physical damage she has suffered, but she will survive and I will still be right by her side. Best friends forever.
Michelle Castell's essay was the $300 first-place winner.
Castell attends Mililani High School.Rant & Rave is a Tuesday Star-Bulletin feature
allowing those 12 to 22 to serve up fresh perspectives.
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