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Sept. 16, 2005

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Known, unknown heroes offer stories of strength

To Melissa Anglada, the choice was clear. It was early last spring when she learned that her father was dying. So she withdrew from school to be with him and her family. She got to say goodbye. Sarah Woodell only got to say hello. She returned from her fall trip abroad, had dinner with her family and saw her brother leave only to be killed that night in an automobile accident.

The stories are too many to count. Allison Bird and Ken Nikaidoh each arrived for their first years at Trinity with heavy hearts, both having lost siblings within a month of matriculating.

Alicia Drew's dad was dying a slow death until he took his own life. He would never meet Alicia's beautiful daughter, delivered within the year. Alicia took some time off, and she brought Ginivieve with her when she came back, juggling classes, diapers and a weary heart.

The names matter, and that's why they are letting me use them. The list otherwise seems unreal: Among us is a student who battles an eating disorder while another grapples with an addiction. A father dies, a brother mourns, a girlfriend grieves, and a young man copes with his parents' divorce. In the time it takes to purchase textbooks several students from Louisiana have suddenly become homeless.

It isn't heroic to endure loss and pain and fear. Given the choice, lessons in persistence aside, most would rather pass. There isn't a right or wrong way to survive; there isn't a weak or strong way. Mostly there is the choice of climbing out of the bed in the morning or not.

And the count goes on, without discriminating. As she teaches, Professor Meredith McGuire's mind must surely wander from her class notes to her murdered daughter. Janice Brazil, wife of President John Brazil, is a cancer survivor. She also honors her dad with trips to Indochina, where he died, literally throwing himself on a grenade to save others during the Vietnam War. The same war, that is, in which Professor Harry Haines served as a young, college-aged man.

As with the rest of the world, our campus is filled with many people who inspire. Tragedy is one thing the bubble can't contain. It can't contain the inspirational stories of those around us either. Warren Yehl received his father's kidney during his 2004 summer vacation. Michael Pellon went home this summer to be a camp counselor, only to learn he would instead be fighting cancer. I hope he can someday meet Professor Gerald Pitts, who is engaged in his own cancer struggle as well.

How lucky we are to be surrounded by people who motivate us to keep perspective, like Maggie Murray, who lost a mom and a boyfriend in the same young life. Like Dr. Gary Neal, who recently lost his dear sister in an accident. How lucky we are to see Sam Hughes on campus, when for one night last year, he dangled precariously from his seat belt to the whirring of the Jaws of Life. How proud to know Dave Smith, our pitching coach, who as a student pitcher threw bravely within hours of the sudden death of his mentor and coach during a playoff road trip.

Look into the eyes of the known and unknown heroes, role models and survivors who share our campus, many in private anguish. The stories are everywhere. Listen and embrace them. Their courage moves and empowers us with strength and compassion. We can count our blessings every day for many things. We can count among those blessings the brave people among us.

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