I’ve been blessed for all of my life with people who have looked out for me—friends, family, and sometimes even acquaintances. No matter what I was going through, I could always rely on somebody to make sure that I was OK.
At the beginning of last week, I needed someone desperately to make sure that I was OK. Luckily, I had two people who I could depend on in my time of need.
Early last Monday morning, I hit my head hard enough to give me a concussion. No matter how minor it was, it still hurt more than I imagined that it would have. You have to realize, first of all, that I’ve never broken any bones. The single most painful thing that I can remember was getting my wisdom teeth removed, the sore, stiff jaw, and the yellow bruises that I had for a week afterward. So, getting a concussion while away from home and away from my mom’s comfort scared me a lot.
I spent Monday afternoon in the ER and I took my first CT scan. As I lay on the bed, I could hear the machine whirring around me and all that I could think was that I was in pain and, most importantly, that I was scared.
My partner and roommate were there for me, even when I didn’t say that I needed anything in particular. That doesn’t mean that other people weren’t thinking of me, as I know that they were. I know that my professors have been incredibly helpful and that was something that I didn’t necessarily expect.
That’s why I say that I’m thankful, it's because I have such a wide base of support.
I still have some remnants of pain—migraines flare up whenever I push myself too hard with school—but I am getting better. Although I would have gotten better without any help, I am eternally grateful for the help that I received.
I can’t count on my fingers how many times I’ve said thank you to my partner this week, but I can tell you that I meant it every single time when I said it and that I still do.
This week, above all, has made me humble. It has made me realize the importance of friends, family, and acquaintances. It has made me realize how privileged I am to be of good health and able to attend school. There are people who wish for an education, but, due to economic standing, their health, or family problems, they can’t. I’m lucky to say that I can.
I’ve always been humble, but maybe that hard hit knocked some "common sense" back into me because now I know. I know how much school means to me. Without it, I’d be depressed. Most importantly, I know how much I mean to those who love me, those who prayed for me, and I definitely know how much I mean to that one person who continually stroked my hair and held my hand. Thank you.
