GREENSBORO, N.C.-The history of the United States always stirs a debate in Ray Parrish’s class at Northwest Guilford High School.
It’s a subject he loves and almost had to do without five months ago, but with the help of a teaching assistant Parrish is teaching his class part-time.
“It’s scary sometimes to know that I’m in this situation, but I keep reminding myself God is in control,” Parrish said.
Just before Christmas, Parrish was diagnosed with Astrocytoma, a form of brain cancer.
Parrish’s diagnosis came while he was preparing his “We the People” debate team for the national championships.
Parrish had a number of surgeries and was forced to stop working during the beginning stages of Chemo.
“The words I kept hearing over and over again is Ray you have 5-10 years,” Parrish said.
Parrish made it his mission to get back to his classroom and his debate team.
“This is all I know. It’s my life,” Parrish said.
He is looking forward to taking his debate team to Washington D.C. on an educational trip.
He still has a long road to recovery and will have to go through another round of chemotherapy.
“I was told that this chemo is going to be three times as strong as the one I’m on now,” Parrish said.
He hopes to be finished with chemotherapy in time for 2014-15 school year, so he can teach full-time.
