An Interview with the Master

            Bryce Farnham

Just this year I become closer with a great guy. Not many people know his story and neither do I really, but I do know he’s gone through a lot and deserves more props than he probably gets. James Comtois is what I like to call an under appreciated hero, who also goes by JC.

            JC looks forward to his future. It’s looking bright and full of sunshine. He plans on graduating high school and moving to Florida to attend a community college. After taking the required classes he plans to transfer to University of Southern Florida, and continue to ‘win’ as he calls it. I asked, ‘What is your drive to get out of bed in the morning?’ he replied, “To graduate and get on with my life.” JC shows up to school 9/10 times. Not usually on time but he shows up, he knows his future depends on it and now that it’s spring its baseball season and has to come to school.

            JC has a decently sized family; two sisters through adoption, and two brothers whom are biological. When JC was only 8, his father passed away. I asked JC, ‘What was one of the hardest moments you’ve ever had to deal with?’ He replied, “Watching my dad die, that was rough.” He also stated that he was very close with his dad and that he looked up to him. His dad had a great influence on him. JC doesn’t speak about his father very often but I remember him saying that he hates it when someone calls his uncle his dad. Even with only a single ‘yeah’ answer to, ‘Were you close to your dad?’ and from what little he has talked about his dad it’s obvious that him and his father had that bond that no one else could ever replace.

            JC has had many struggles through out his life. Along with family struggles he also struggles with learning. He suffers through learning with ADHD. I asked him, ‘Do you feel like your ADHD effects your life positively or negatively?’ he replied, “Negatively, because it effects learning and such.” Even though he suffers from AHDH, I find JC to be like any other student. Even though it may be difficult for JC to comprehend certain things he is still as smart as the next kid, probably even smarter in some cases. Knowing that JC has difficulty learning, knowing how smart he is only makes me realize how much of an effort he puts in to understand.

            JC has a very abstract mind. I asked him, ‘If you were on an island, what three things would you bring and why?’ His reply was, “A still for never ending alcohol, a survival kit, I can hold my own with this, and a canteen for water and boiling water.” JC would go out of his way to make someone smile. He may have that ‘badass’, tough boy exterior but deep down he wants to help the helpless and heal the wounded. JC’s super power in my eyes is a contagious smile.