Today during my College Health Class
I learned a great lesson today from my Health teacher.
As she was about to teach us a lesson on Suicide I could see the little tears growing deep in her blue eyes.
She told us it was hard for her to teach the first period due to how tough the topic was for her, but told us she had to teach us and went on.
Her son had been a student at The Citadel, The Military College of South Carolina.
He was in Corp Squad as a Wrestler for The Citadel.
Through his Knob year here at The Citadel, he grew up in Charlie Company.
After finishing his Knob year Successfully he returned to The Citadel as a Sophmore.
Soon after He had started his semester, He was invited to go to the Florida State game by three of his closest friends. He agreed to go with excitement. After the game day had passed It was game day. This day He had a different response saying, "Let's go to the Carolina game instead of the Florida State one". As a Joke his friends gave him a smile along with a Fuck you, and left for the game.
Day after the Florida State game, The Citadel was informed that two out of the three cadets that were planning to attend the Florida State game had been in a car crash that took their lives, following with the last one being near death.
The reason why my health teacher's son tried telling them not to go was because he had a dream about them getting in a major car crash. After this event he felt guilty that it had been his fault and started having mental problems. As he got treatment and counseling the only thing that mattered to him was the last closest friend that survived the tragic accident. As time for spring break came he went to visit him at the Hospital. As he arrived at the Hospital he was told that his friend was not going to be able to make it. 15 minutes after he had been informed... his friend past away.
With great amount of stress he was not able to attend The Citadel again for a semester.
My health teacher did everything she could for him, and soon he was getting better. As he grew out of the stress and disabilities, he met a girl. This girl meant the world to him. Things were going well, He asked her to be his wife. After she had accepted his proposal he was filled with joy. During his Junior year he was able to fight his problems and difficulty out with this girl, until the day before the finals. On the day before the finals, She took the ring out of her finger and bailed out on him. He had completely flunked all his final exams which made him ineligible to attend The Citadel his Senior year. Then he had hung a rope around his 1971 Mustang's Exhaust pipe and commited suicide.
Through this story I have reflected upon my life.
I know so little, I have yet to experience situations that had happened to him.
but the Reason why my health teacher was still teaching at The Citadel after his death was because of him. She had told our class, through some divine miracle she was able to get in contact with her son. Her son had told her to teach at The Citadel since he knew the amount of stress the knobs, and the cadets at The Citadel go through. She kept her promise and has been teaching here eversince..
We always complain about the things we dont have, the amount of stress school gives us, and sometimes how much we hate our parents for being strict with our lives. Instead may all of us be thankful for what we have right now. The things we
do have, the knowledge that the school gives us, and the Parents for caring so much about our well being.
As my teacher ended the story with a smile, I end passing on this story with gratitude.