Death Is No Respecter of Persons by Tace

Death Is No Respecter of Persons by Tace - February 2024 Scholarship Essay

For a long time, I wasn’t sure of what I wanted to do; of what truly sparked my passion. This wasn’t because I didn’t like anything. In fact, it was quite the opposite: I was fascinated by many things and choosing just one to dedicate my life to was not a choice that I took lightly. But then, Death casually strolled into my life.

Death picks fights with anyone he wishes knowing his victory is assured. A recent target was my father: a 49-year-old man in good health; admittedly a hard target, but Death wasn’t worried. He wouldn’t fight fair… he never does. He struck early, when we were least expecting it, when it was already too late. Terminal cancer was his bioweapon of choice, ancient and effective. Chemotherapy and T-blockers would only buy my dad time, not save his life. My dad fought a good fight, but the effects of warfare became more and more apparent: wispy patches of peach fuzz in place of hair and a beard; dark, drooping eyes from restless nights spent in pain; deep bruises on his hands and thighs- evidence of when he had fallen to the bathroom floor, as my mom desperately tried to push the door open. Finally, after a year of biological attacks and chemical retaliation, I watched dad wrestle Death one final time. My father died early July 2023 with my mother, siblings, and I by his bedside as the terminal agitation subsided. Death had won.

As my father fought, I was shown the fascinating world of microbiology and immunology. I began to read new material, such as Immune by Phillip Dettmer and The Cancer Code by Dr. Jason Fung, amazed by how efficient and coordinated humanity’s immune systems are. I experienced an excitement, a passion for systems that flowed without conscious effort. Thanks to Death, I discovered what I wanted to focus the rest of my life on and felt confident switching my major to Biology. My painful experience is just one of hundreds of thousands that occur every year. But mine came at a time when I could allow it to fuel my future. I have used it to shape my purpose and fill me with ambition. I go to college to achieve my greatest goal: to remove a powerful bioweapon from Death’s arsenal by cracking the cancer code.

But, what I hope to impress upon you (most importantly) is why I will succeed. Firstly, my vision of a world rid of cancer is not one I take lightly. I understand how ambitious this goal is; cancer has been a focus of research for decades. But, with the exponential progression of nanotechnology and bioengineering, I truly believe that a solution is forthcoming. Secondly, my mission is motivated by passion. As my father fought, I discovered a fascination for the techniques employed by cancer to avoid detection by the immune system. I want to foster that same passion in others. Lastly, my determination is motivated by personal experience, and proper motivation is what keeps men from surrendering in the face of opposition. Before my father passed, the doctors told my brother and I that this cancer was hereditary. That day, I began to see my father’s experience as my future, and my father’s fight as my own. For this reason, I will not give up or give in. Deem this my official declaration of war, Death. Thank you for your consideration in aiding me in my endeavors.