WP1: Rough Draft 2

I don't know the girl in the photograph. And I probably never will.

But she and I share a connection. Both of our lives have been affected by cancer.

My Grandpa died of lung cancer before I was born. I never had a chance to meet him. To play sports, celebrate holidays or enjoy his hand picked Christmas presents. He was taken from me by a terrible disease, and left me in this world without a grandparent.

And like me, it's possible that this mother could also lose someone that she loves. Her beautiful little girl could die from cancer.

Cancer contributes to 23.1% of all human deaths in the United States. To put that number in comparison, that's more than the number of people who die from diabetes, influenza, alzheimers and all other unintentional accidents combined.

And unfortunately, thousands die every year from cancer that could have been prevented. Movements like the pink ribbon campaign to raise awareness for breast cancer are working to change that, but it's just a start. Too many people don't know or underestimate the danger of cancer. Instead of getting into the doctor's office for simple tests that could save their lives, many only get it when symptoms begin to appear, and by than it is too late. They are lost to those around them, just like my grandpa. And that is a tragedy.

But let's be honest. It's hard to connect with raw information and statistics. Sometimes you need something more to get through to people. That is why this photograph of a young girl fighting cancer, with her mother by her side is so important. Unlike a number, this image puts a face on cancer and it's effect on the world.

At first glance, you probably notice that this girl has no hair and that she has IV's coming out of her arms. This is a common side effict of chemotherapy, a costly treatment used to fight cancer. But when you look beyond her initial apperance and gaze into her eyes, you begin feel a human connection. It's like she is looking back at you. They say the eyes are a window into a person's soul. And when you look inside the soul of this little girl, you begin to feel like she could be your daughter or younger sister. A member of your family. All of a sudden, you begin to care.

This is classic pathos, appealing to our emotions and making us feeling something. We feel compassion and even pity for the girl and her mother. Many of us probably are probably reminded of our own families when we see such genuine affection in a picture. And when we can relate to the characters in an image, half of the argument is already won.

This photograph also argues it’s point through logos and it’s arrangement of the photograph. The daughter laying her head on the mom's shoulder, with her mother's hand pressed against her back is a classic demonstration of love. They look happy in this picture. Happy simply to be together. Happy just because they are alive. They don't have to say this with words, because we can see it in their body language.

Body language often communicates our deepest feelings. Anyone can form the vocalize the words "I love you." But the affection shown in this picture can't be replicated or faked. The human smile is a universal symbol for happiness, and in this case a picture is worth a thousand words.

Instead of focusing on the bad, this photograph focuses on what little good there is in a situation like this. There is a contrast the two brave people we in the foreground, somehow making it through another day with a positive attitude; and the dark, blurry and uncertain world around them. It’s classic good versus evil, hope over despair. By refusing to be defined by the difficult circumstances around them, they are an inspiration to anyone looking at the picture.

This picture is a reminder not to take life for granted. And the world certainly needs a reminder. Statistics show that millions of people young and old will have cancer in their lifetime. Yet the warning often goes unheard or boldly ignored, especially by young people. To understand this, we have to look at the context at which the average college student is coming from. Because students are generally pretty healthy, care free and disinterested in the future, it’s hard to really think about something like cancer. For us, it's all about today and what's happening over the weekend.

But a picture like this can bring us back down to Earth. Connecting with this girl and feeling compassion to her situation makes us think. What if this happened to me? What if cancer took away someone that I care about?

So many of us take our lives for granted. We waste precious moments that we will never get back. I mean think about it, when was the last time you genuinely stopped and thought about someone else’s needs? When was the last time you genuinely helped a stranger or even a friend?

Do we need some sort of award or incentive stop being selfish for a few minutes? Why is it that in a country where we have so much, we have so much trouble giving even just a little back? Look at how lucky we are to be living in a country like America with the opportunities that we have. Why don’t we do something with it?

This picture really puts things in perspective. For this mother and her daughter, life isn’t about the next vacation or what hot new toy you want to buy next. It’s about surviving, and keeping close to you the only thing that matters.

Compare that with your own life, and what do you see? Are you living your life to it’s fullest potential? Do you appreciate all of the people around you? In short, could you be doing better?

Life is short. So make the most of it. And if you get lost along the way, maybe this girl can help you find the light.