Last week I had the most extraordinary encounter with a group of Ohio University students, and I want everyone to know what special people we have on our campus. I was crossing the street from the lower entrance of Baker Center when I firmly caught my toe on the curb and fell face-down on the sidewalk. I was so rattled that I couldn't get up, and I was bleeding profusely from my nose. There were several students around and they immediately rushed to help me. One young gentleman gave me a washcloth that he had in his backpack so that I could try to staunch the bleeding, and then he took off his jacket and wrapped it around me. The girls called OU Police and Southeast Ohio Emergency Medical Services for an ambulance.
The entire group waited there with me until the police and ambulance arrived and I was carted off to the hospital. I discovered that I had a broken nose and a broken finger, but it was almost worth the pain just to have the opportunity to interact with these fabulous young people. I wish that I could have taken their names so that I could send each one of them a thank you. In lieu of that, I hope they read this letter and know how grateful I am to them. I also hope that others in the university community realize how lucky we are to have students with their compassion and willingness to get involved in our midst. To those wonderful students, thank you!
Angela Nilsen is a graduate administrative assistant in the Department of Biological Sciences.
4 Opinion
