Something about this day reminds me of a student that I knew years ago while teaching at a local university. I consider myself fortunate and blessed to have crossed paths with such an amazing young woman, forming a strong bond with her during the years that she completed her undergraduate education. She was a stellar student — detailed, responsible, respectful. She was kind and thoughtful. Very smart. Very insightful. Inquisitive and curious.
CC (as friends and family called her) was filled with hope and promise for a bright future despite having to deal with an injury that led to her being wheel-chair bound and plagued with multiple complications and obstacles to overcome. However, CC smiled and moved forward, her attitude always realistic about her challenges, yet fiercely determined.
On a day much like today, we discovered each other in the nearby grocery store parking lot after completing our purchases, lugging bags and containers through a brisk wind to our vehicles. We waved and laughed, each of us trying to make sure nothing fell or blew off in the wind as we loaded our trunks. I grumbled to myself about my feelings of disorganization with the ordeal of grocery shopping, but noted that my past student, now colleague and friend (she was working for a local agency after graduation) managed her packages and her person and wheel-chair with grace and ease. Inside I felt ashamed of myself for my own woes, resolving to handle future shopping tasks with the ease that my friend modeled. And I laughed to myself realizing that her family and education taught her well… 🙂
Only months after that silly parking lot encounter I learned that CC was quite ill and hospitalized, and, she didn’t make it home or back to her job. Her death threw a painful stab into her university department, and I joined with many others to share our loss, attending a beautiful memorial service organized by the agency where she had done her university internship. It was hard, yet beautiful, to remember all that was special about CC and remember the lessons she taught those whose lives she touched, like mine.
I was happy to meet CC’s family, and for several years after remained in contact with her mother. She appreciated the story about my encounter with her daughter in the grocery store parking lot. And in return, I learned so much more about what made my friend a most incredible person…
CC’s mother shared a poem with me that was one of her daughter’s favorites. The title, she said, was CC’s motto and what she carried with her each moment of each day of her life… So I share this poem in honor of CC, and hope that it can help others as it helped my young student/friend. CC would be pleased to help anyone in need — something very important to her, and certainly the foundation of her chosen career path.
COURAGE
Courage is the strength to stand up
When it’s easier to fall down and lose hold.
It is the conviction to explore new horizons
When it’s easier to believe what we’ve been told.
Courage is the desire to maintain our integrity
When it’s easier to feel sorry for ourselves and stay.
Courage is the will to shape our world
When it’s easier to let someone else do it for us.
It is the recognition that none of us are perfect
When it’s easier to criticize others and fuss.
Courage is the power to step forward and lead
When it’s easier to follow the crowd; their pleas resound.
It is the spirit that places you on top of the mountain
When it’s easier to never leave the ground.
The foundation of courage is solid,
The rock that doesn’t roll.
Courage is the freedom
Of our mind, body, and soul!
~ Author Unknown
“The key to happiness is freedom, and the key to freedom is courage.”