I probably wouldn’t have made it through my first year of college without my first post-high- school roommate, Jerry.
Jerry had the heart of a high school teacher even before he received his first diploma. And, after all, he had a cool Chevy. Both became important for me because I was a green freshman, who had cerebral palsy, walked with difficulty and didn’t speak clearly.
I bought a grocery cart to hold my books and give me balance as I walked each morning the one block from our dorm to Old Main on the Platteville State University campus.
But Jerry was always there to give me a ride in his warm car when the sidewalks were full of snow or icy.
And, he and Tom, our housefellow, became my quarterbacks when it came to my task of gaining acceptance as one of the first few students in 1961 with a disability to gain acceptance from the other guys in our dorm.
* When have you found an increased sense of personal resilience through the unexpected empathy of another person?
I probably wouldn’t have made it through my first year of college without my first post-high- school roommate, Jerry.
Jerry had the heart of a high school teacher even before he received his first diploma. And, after all, he had a cool Chevy. Both became important for me because I was a green freshman, who had cerebral palsy, walked with difficulty and didn’t speak clearly.
I bought a grocery cart to hold my books and give me balance as I walked each morning the one block from our dorm to Old Main on the Platteville State University campus.
But Jerry was always there to give me a ride in his warm car when the sidewalks were full of snow or icy.
And, he and Tom, our housefellow, became my quarterbacks when it came to my task of gaining acceptance as one of the first few students in 1961 with a disability to gain acceptance from the other guys in our dorm.
* When have you found an increased sense of personal resilience through the unexpected empathy of another person?
There are children like that. Gentle and thoughtful.
Yes, and don't often highlight their gentleness and thoughtfulness. Thanks, Susan.