Article July 19, 2004 Issue

'The cursor sat blinking...'

When a class assignment isn't what you expected

By Alison Tozier

It was just another biology period for most of the students in my class. As I looked around the room, I noticed the impassive looks of my peers as we got out our highlighters and prepared to read a lengthy article that had been put on our desks. I knew it would take at least the whole period to read. And stapled on the back was a lengthy worksheet that we were supposed to complete for homework. I tried to get comfortable in my hard, blue chair as I picked up the packet of stapled papers. But when I finally looked at the title that had already started to consume the attention of my classmates---"How Cancer Arises" —an uneasy feeling came over me.

To everyone else, reading an article like this probably very normal, and I doubt anyone would have understood why it made me uncomfortable. So I kept quiet. I didn't want to appear as if I had all the answers by trying to explain to my teacher that I think it's healthier for you to keep thoughts about disease out of mind.

The fact is, I know more about the disease than I would like to: In the past five years, three people in my life have passed away from some type of cancer. It's difficult not to let something like that affect you, and I knew that reading more details about it would just cloud up my thoughts with fear.

About the author

Alison Tozier lives in Falmouth, Maine. She begins her senior year of high school in September. Alison is a contributing writer for a local newspaper called The Community Leader, as well as her school newspaper.

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