What is the point of life if it’s not at its fullest potential? Everything should only be done to its fullest because if it’s not, then there is not a point in doing it. I learned this through my experience of when I fought through my cancer treatments. It was an experience in which I learned and in which I changed and one that I cannot forget.
During my sophomore year in high school it was discovered that I had cancer and would need three rounds of chemo therapy. At the time my family and I received this news, I was concerned with missing the upcoming soccer season, and little did I know what this diagnosis would bring. Soon after the problem was discovered, a surgery was performed to remove the tumor. The decision that I would need chemo therapy came soon after the surgery to ensure the cancer was surely gone.
Various testing began such as X-rays, CT scans, blood work, breathing tests, and even hearing tests. The chemo started soon and I progressively felt worse and worse as the three rounds wore on. My body physically was taking a toll, I had lost weight to an unhealthy point, I didn’t want to eat and had no desire to move. Mentally I had every desire to move and be anywhere but a hospital, I would have especially liked a soccer field, but I could only dream and gaze to the outdoors for I was too weak and sick to even be able to walk. By the third round of chemo, I had to stay an entire extra week because of my poor condition. When the treatment was all over more tests and scans were carried out, but I was able to finally start recovering. Recovery was frustrating and very exciting at the same time. I felt like a wild animal finally released from its cage, but at the same time, I still felt chained because I was so weak I had to take my recovery very slowly in order to not injure myself. Finally, four surgeries later, twenty pounds lost, weeks upon weeks in a hospital, countless tests done, far behind in school and no physical activity in weeks and I was eager to return to my life as fast as possible.
As I finally returned, I had a different outlook on the world. After feeling trapped doing nothing but throwing up all my guts, I had returned with determination and in a mindset to not waist anything. I had felt what it was like to be restricted and I was not going to waste my life doing meaningless tasks and wasting time. I am going to live my life to the upmost fullest. I stopped watching TV; I stopped playing video games and stopped staying inside so much. I found no reason or anyway to improve or make myself better inside on a TV. I was constantly outside getting in shape, getting stronger, and I did not want to feel trapped by any walls that lacked importance or interest. I wasted no time with anything of importance. My school grades went back up compared to when I was in the hospital; I worked my body to top physical condition again and returned for the next soccer season. I have kept this mindset to not waste time and to constantly make myself better as much as I can. This experience has taught me not to waste the precious time I have because I never know when it will be ripped away. With this precious time, I have used it to fill everything I do to its fullest potential.
-Elias Delvasto