Paul O'Neil
Miss Shorey
Period B English
11 September, 2000

My Life

Many people will compare their life with all sorts of things. I have heard some interesting metaphors comparing a life to things like roller coasters, roads, and lawns. I personally like the road metaphor, but I think there is a better one for me. My life is like walking a desert or field, a very large one. I feel like I've been spanned across continents in search of something, but finding more than I bargained for.

I've lived in many places across the U.S. and I enjoy traveling. Flying in planes has always been the most fun, especially when you're young I think. My life was as normal as could be when I lived in Kansas, Oklahoma, and Alaska. Once we left Alaska things became different and I took up a life that most wouldn't choose. I have to say I've experienced things that most people don't get to see living a normal life.

Once my family had relocated to New York I was diagnosed with cancer. Everybody was upset clearly, but I didn't ever think much of it. I was concerned about what I had to go through and what surgery was life and I had never been to a hospital before for anything serious. The toll that it took on my mind must have been incredible. I am just now realizing that 8 years later.

I have met so many friends in both the hospital and in school, I am told that I'm an outgoing person. I must be because if someone were to spend the amount of time I have being sick, wouldn't you want to make up for it? I really love the state of Maine and the friends I have met there. High school is great but not without its difficulties. For all of high school (practically) I have been going through chemo treatment.

At this stage in my life I feel my wandering across the land metaphor still holds true. Now I have reached a road that leads to something important, I don't know what. I have kept hope that I will reach the end but feel that just when I've reached the end I am told to go farther. Regardless that my spirits are being whittled at I keep on going, knowing that the reward at the end of my journey will somehow be greater. If you were to ask anyone who knows me they might tell you I'm amazing. As far as I'm concerned I'm just life everybody else and I wouldn't want it any other way.

Paul O'Neil
May 25, 1985 - January 11, 2002