Like every college freshman, I learned a few things throughout my first few months here at Mizzou. Most of these lessons learned were taught to me the hard way. The biggest lesson learned is that unfortunately theft is a real and largely common occurrence--this known to almost everyone besides me, until now.
My first week of school, I forgot my rain pullover at the student center. As I ran back amidst the torrential rainfall, I came to find that, of course, my jacket was gone. The lady at the information desk chuckled at me when I asked where to find a lost and found. I am still not sure why someone would want my high school lacrosse jacket with my name stitched on the front, but I guess it enticed one greedy by-passer.
Clearly I had not learned my lesson the first time. Just a few short months later I picked up my t-shirt order at my chapter house, then headed over to maintain my Mizzou 22 at late night Rollins. Naturally I forgot the shirt on the chair, and it had disappeared when came back the following morning.
If those occurrences hadn't taught me not to leave my things laying around, this last one did. I took my favorite pair of jeans down to the cement basement cellar of Lathrop, in which we call the laundry room. I threw my jeans into an open washer, waited for the 'door locked' light to illuminate, and ran back up to my room just as I had done countless times before. After getting wrapped up in another HIMYM episode, I randomly remembered my jeans. I grabbed my student ID, and ran back downstairs.
I approached the machine and was suddenly confused why the door was open. I looked in and saw nothing but the silver lining of the inside. Oh crap. I checked all of the other washers, hoping I had just went to the wrong one. After a relentless search and a short stage of denial, I accepted that my jeans were toast.
Why someone would take my wet jeans out of a washing machine is still beyond me, let alone steal anything in the first place. Stealing is selfish, inconsiderate and shows poor character. But if you're SO entitled to take something that in no way belongs to you, take a jacket, a t-shirt, whatever — those will fit nearly anyone who walks by. But really, jeans? Those aren't a one-size-fits-all kind of deal, especially when the pair you stole belong to a 5-foot-10 girl who has double additional length on all her pants.
I had never experienced such causal theft until I came to college, and quite frankly it made me sick. Sadly enough, it took three stolen items for me to realize not everyone in the world is considerate of others, or even just a decent person for that matter.
About a month later, I am sitting in chapter when I realize I completely forgot to take my life out of the dryer. Yes, my life. That dryer held everything I ever cared about - my leggings, t-shirts and my favorite pullover I took from my dad's closet. After we were dismissed, I literally sprinted through Greek town, anticipating all my clothes were stolen, just like all the times before. Embarrassingly out of breath, I arrived in the laundry room nearly too nervous to open the dryer door.
I swung open the door to find absolutely nothing. My stomach churned and I felt my face burn with anger. I walked away full of defeat until I came across something I never expected. On a separate dryer sat all of my beloved clothes. The clothes weren't just thrown on the dryer either, each piece was not only present, but neatly folded with care.
As I laid in bed that night I wondered who the girl that folded my laundry was. I was convinced all of my stuff was been gone, but I came to find the exact opposite. I understand I shouldn't leave my things around. I can be naive in this way and my bubble is re-popped every day as I venture through college. But just because I'm not there to guard my things doesn't give you the right to take them. I mean have a little decency, people. I'll probably never know who this girl was, but I could not be more thankful for her. Not only thankful for her selfless empathetic act, but for giving me just a little much needed hope for humanity.
