Tessa Scott

Everybody has a different idea of a hero. It ranges from family to complete strangers. To me, a hero is someone who has strength, mentally or physically. A hero’s first priority is doing good things for others. They have determination, courage, and are willing to sacrifice important things in life for the sake of others. Basically, a hero is someone who will always be there for you, no matter what life throws at them.

I don’t think it’s important to have only one specific hero. I do believe, however, that having a hero or heroes is a necessity to help you grow. It gives you someone to look up to you and be inspired by. Even though you’re not going to follow exactly in their footsteps, it gives you something to build off of. Heroes push you to be the person you want to be.

Tessa Scott is the hero in this story. She is battling with a strong cancer that is slowly wearing her down, but refuses to let it stop her. She makes a list of what she wants to do before she dies alongside her best friend, Zoey. You can tell that she is set on fulfilling the things on the list when she tells Zoey that “even if I beg you not to, even if I’m horrible to you, you must make me do it” (Downham 6). For anyone to be that determined to not give up hope must have the utmost strength. It takes strength to show emotion and for Tessa to accept what is happening takes a lot. As many times as she wanted to give up on the list, she always came back fighting more than ever, even as she was nearing her final days.

Tessa is always there for others, even if she might be bitter at times. She is without a doubt devoted to her little brother, Cal. Her instructions for him after she is gone are “don’t lose your heart to someone who doesn’t deserve it.” (Downham 299). That shows that she truly cares. She tries to always make him look at the positive side of things, and for her to put on a brave face for him shows a lot of character.

Even though she is also afraid to fall in love, she never rejects it completely. She lives life to the best of her abilities until she is no longer able to function. Even as she starts to wear down, she never lets death take her over. She thinks to herself “when you hear a sound, like the flapping of a kite getting closer, like the sails of a windmill slowly turning, say, ‘Not yet, not yet.’ (Downham 295). Tessa shows true courage until death completely takes over her body. Her love and devotion to family and friends resembles a true hero.

Tessa Scott should be inducted into a hero hall of fame for multiple reasons. Most sixteen-year-olds go to school, go out with friends, and party on the weekends. Tessa gets blood transfusions and has to use all her strength just to get up and out of bed. She rarely complains and makes sure her family is happy before she is. During her fight with cancer, Tessa never gives up. She tries to live out years of her life in just the few months she has left. She never once says, “I can’t.” Tessa has an extremely large heart and open mind, and uses it to her advantage as she dives headfirst into the last months that she has on earth.

1. Who is your biggest hero? Why?
My biggest hero would have to be my father. He stepped up and took care of both me and my brother after our mom left, and always makes sure to be by my side whenever I need him.

2. Do you consider the doctors and nurses to be heroes?
I think they are and aren’t. Yes, they do save many lives, and in that way, they are heroes. In another way, for people like me who don’t have a chance from the start, it’s hard to call them “heroes.”

3. Would you call yourself a hero?
I don’t think of myself as a hero at all. A lot of people are sick and make bucket lists just like I did. There are also a lot of people with a lot more strength than me. I wouldn’t say I’m your average kid, but I wouldn’t say I’m a hero either.

4. What makes someone deserving of being called a hero?
I think there are many different types of heroes. I would consider a hero to be someone who never loses faith in themselves and the people that surround them.

5. Is having a hero important to you?
Yes. Especially at this time of my life and illness, I need a backbone. I need someone I can look up to and rely on when I’m no longer strong enough to handle the cancer by myself.

6. Do you believe everyone has potential to become a hero?
Without a doubt. People will always surprise you.

7. Would you go back in time and change things if you got the chance?
I would change things so it wasn’t such a burden on my family. I’ve come to accept my fate. It has taught me a lot and let me do some crazy things. I wouldn’t call it a good thing, but I’m okay with it now.

8. What helped to overcome the fear of your cancer?
The fear has never really gone away, but my family and friends have helped ease the pain. Cal and his jokes have especially taken some of the edge off.

9. Would you say this has helped you become a better person?
Most definitely. I have learned that things can change in the blink of an eye and you really have to grasp life. If there’s something you want to do or say to someone, do it before time runs out.

10. How do you want to be remembered?
I want to be remembered as someone with a big heart. If people smile when they think of me, I’ve made my mark on the world.