LIM COLLEGE ESSAY
Corrections and suggestions are welcome.
In a 300-500 word essay, please describe the most significant experience, accomplishment, risk you have taken, moral dilemma, or personal triumph you have faced and its impact on you.
This present year I discovered that my grandmother had cancer. Our relationship was scarcely good...
Around the same time, a friend's grandfather died from cancer. I witnessed day by day his relationship with his grandmother after his grandfather's death; it was touching to see how he was so willing to bring her back to life, to bring joy in her life. He would come from miles away to spend the night with her, so she wouldn't be alone or just to tuck her in at night. Seeing this, I felt as I wasn't worthy of having the grandmother that I had, that sooner than later she would leave, and I did nothing to make the best of her days. It's sad to see how people wait for a tragedy to happen to say sorry or to say I love you. My grandmother never showed pain until the days she became worst. This was maybe because she didn't want us to feel sorry for her, to see her in pain. She did not want to feel vulnerable nor want our pity or compassion. Was I supposed to just sit back and watch her pass away?
I started volunteering at El Patronato Cibaeńo Contra el Cáncer in Santiago, Dominican Republic. This is a non-profit institution that seeks to advocate, diagnose and treat those with cancer. I felt that by helping others, I would learn to help her, my grandmother. I found it rather easier to help them strangers than her. Why? I don't know. When I was with her I couldn't find the right words to comfort her. I did not know how to help not how to show her I was there for her, supporting her.
Throughout the months of visiting in the PCCC's hospital I made a friend. She was 95 years old and had terminal cancer. I had grown fund of her, and I can say it was mutual. One late afternoon, after school, I entered her room in the hospital, her face pale; you could see she was in pain, and I asked her "How can I help to ease the pain?" "There is nothing you can do" she said, "All you can do is stand by my side, hold my hand and that's more than the support ill ever need." I did as I was told and held her hand until I felt the last beat of her pulse.
She showed me not to fear death and to seize the day.
The idea that you can't do anything to stop it... it is frightening and confusing. You find yourself trying to pull back on your family to avoid feeling that way. I learned that no one should face cancer alone, and that company and moral support make it all easier to cope.
Not long after the old ladies' death, my grandmother deceased.
I held my grandmother's hand until the end.
This is a very compelling essay about you and your grandmother. I really liked the essay but just fixed a few little grammatical mistakes. If possible, I would like to know more about the relationship between you and your grandmother. I know you mentioned it was distant but maybe you can give examples. However, the essay is very good as is. Good Luck!
