Carolina students conduct original research and work to solve problems in almost every imaginable field. If you could spend a semester researching a specific topic or problem, what would you choose and why?
The walls are painted a bleak beige. Extraneous paintings of Native Americans and wild animals line both sides of the hallways. A red light flashes violently as a nurse quickly shuffles from her desk to one of the rooms. This is the East-View Medical & Rehabilitation Center.
It was nearing the end of my freshman year in high school when my grandmother, Harriet, was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. When my mother had told me what was happening, I was literally speechless. I had never even heard of the disease, moreover, known what the side effects were. Every other week we began taking trips to the East-View Medical Center. It was a ten hour drive round-trip, but worth every second. I had been so accustomed to the warmth of my Grandmother's smile and cheerful greetings.
"Hi pumpkin!" she would say as I stepped in her door.
"Hi Grandma!" I would say back as I rushed to her bedside.
Nothing could take my grandma away, not even this Alzheimer's disease. I felt as though this whole situation would be like one in the movies. You know, where someone's dying up until the end where there's a magical cure or somehow the patient springs back to vigor and life.
As the weeks passed my optimism slowly faded, but I never lost hope. The smile that warmed the bleak, apathetic place was gone. It was replaced by a rather curious and confused look.
"Marlene?" my grandmother would ask as me and my mother would walk into her room.
"No mom. It's your daughter Nancy," my mother would reply as a tears dwindled down her cheek to her smile; resembling the one my grandmother wore before the disease had taken its biggest toll. I had never felt so lost. All of the memories I shared with her were fading away and I knew no miracle was awaiting us. There would be no joyous movie ending. The glee and elation upon completing my first year of high school meant nothing. All I wanted was to see my grandmother the way she was before Alzheimer's had taken everything.
She died on April 23rd, 2007. It felt as though a weight on my shoulders had been lifted. The bittersweet sense that she had left for a better place, has comforted me ever since.
As the years have past I have begun to realize not only who I am, but also what I aspire for in the future. My dream is to one day be the medical researcher who cures diseases, so no one has to experience the same pain I had endured. If accepted into the University of North Carolina, I would conduct my research on Alzheimer's disease wholeheartedly and to the best of my ability. It's wouldn't be a burdensome requirement, but rather a chance for me to make strides toward my dream while commemorating my grandmother's life and all that she has given to me. Maybe someday I'll be the one providing that perfect movie ending to someone else's life.
-It is my first draft so there are more than likely punctuation errors. Any other feedback would be helpful and greatly appreciated.
When my mother had told me what was happening,...
"Hi pumpkin!" she would say as I stepped through her door.
"Marlene?" my grandmother would ask, as my mother and I would walk into her room.
All I wanted was to see my grandmother the way she was before Alzheimer's had taken everything.This is powerful writing!
As the years have passed I have begun to realize not only ...
My dream is to one day be a medical researcher who cures diseases, so no one has to experience the same pain I have endured.
Your ending is heartfelt and very good writing. Good essay!
