Haley’s story: Balancing school and work while fighting cancer
Haley Galvin
November 12, 2020
Being a college student and working at a newspaper was really hard last semester in the midst of the pandemic. Now, this semester, I am helping manage that newspaper, and I am battling cancer, while still taking five college courses. To say that it’s hard is the understatement of a lifetime. And I know there are people with cancer who still have to care for families who deal with much more than I do. I am not ignorant to that, but this is still difficult to do.
My first treatment was the same week that classes started, and I knew then I had to tell my professors what I was going through. I wanted to be transparent, but I didn’t want it to be an excuse to fall behind in my classes. I reached out to all my professors, and many of them were more accommodating to me than I expected. They gave me the chance to feel as comfortable as possible in Zoom classes.
At the time, I didn’t realize it, but I wouldn’t want my camera on, and my professor gave me that option before I even had to ask. I was able to keep my privacy in this delicate and difficult time. For this, I am grateful. I was able to keep this to myself until I was ready.
I have also been given the grace of certain extensions if I ever needed them. I’ve hardly taken any because I don’t always want to have that “excuse.” I have to get my responsibilities done and make it work.
When it comes to managing a newspaper, I have so much help from my editor-in-chief and all the other editors. On mornings when I am sick and cannot make it to meetings, I don’t feel pressure to attend and I am given help whenever I ask for it.
But that is one thing that is really hard for me. I have a very hard time asking for help, so I have been toughing it out. I feel like I have no other choice. Life does not stop because I have cancer. It keeps going, so I have to keep going.
So that’s what I’m doing.
I go through every day because I have to. I refuse to let this disease be an excuse. If I sit around and do nothing, I would drive myself crazy. I know that’s a mentality not a lot of people would be able to have. Everyone deals with this differently, and we are all on our own journey with this horrible disease. I choose to work through it — even on days when I am sick or so stressed out it would be easier to take a break.
I am sure some people would take the semester off school, but I didn’t. I don’t want this to be a setback that keeps me from my dreams. Cancer has taken so much from me already, so I want to make sure it doesn’t take my graduation or job away.
That is why I do homework and edit stories through the fatigue and through the nausea: I want to get through it. I think I’ve been telling myself that if I just keep working through it, it will come to an end sooner. I hope that it goes by as quickly as it can because I chose to work my way through it and just go through my everyday life with it.
I want nothing more but to return to my normal life, to be a normal college student. That is why I do this the way that I do, so I can get through this journey hopefully as quickly as possible.
I am grateful to everyone I have had to help me manage my day-to-day when I need help, even if I don’t always ask for it.
Hello Haley,
On behalf of the NIU Men’s rugby club, we wish you well. I just went through a bout with cancer earlier this year and know a bit of what struggles you are facing. If this beat up old body can pull through I have high hopes for you. Once you and the world are all back to normal please come out to match and bring a friend or two to our social at Molly’s afterwards. Post Covid, and may that be in our rear view mirrors very soon. We still have a few players on or near campus, so if we can ever be of any help in a safe distanced manner, please let us know. Cheers, Coach Nolan Day
Haley, I am a friend of your gandma and mother. I myself have been cancer free for eight years. You are such a brave strong girl. A real wonderwoman. Gwen
Haley, thank you for your articles that are personal and inspiring. You are a brave woman and cancer conqueror. I hope your new sweet puppy is giving you all the joy and comfort you have wished for. You are Haley Strong. Be well in body, soul, and might as you continue your survival journey.