Walking up and down the vast multitude of stairs at Fenway Park is nothing short of a battle. Paired with a thirty-pound case of Italian Ices, I am challenged to maintain a cheerful salesman's attitude and my breath. This forces me to frequently rush through encounters with those I'm selling to. However, some encounters are quite different.
On a sweltering day in July, I was lucky enough to be selling Italian ice instead of hot pizza or sticky cotton candy. These frosty treats were in high demand, forcing me to put on race like blinders in order to keep up with sales. As I was handing a family a few Italian ices, a woman inquired about my now sweaty rubber bracelet.
Everyone in my family wears a grey wristband which says “No One FIGHTS Alone!” …show more content…
I realized as I walked away that the woman could have easily let me pass by. Yet, in seeing this small and inconspicuous bracelet, she decided to help someone she believed to be in need. I think I learned something from this stranger because three months later, as I was walking to class on a brisk September morning, I saw Charlie, a teammate, limping in front of me. This past August, Charlie suffered a severe concussion and intense nerve damage from a hit in football. He had recently returned to school, and perhaps his limp showed how much he was struggling. Having suffered a season ending concussion my sophomore year, I knew how hard it was to be on the sidelines.
“Charlie, it's great to see you again, how are you?” I said.
“Struggling to be honest. The physical therapy has been hard. It’s good to be back outside though.”
“I am so sorry, how’s the return to school been? How long is the recovery?”
“Long, the doctors said at least a year or two. It’s been...weird...but it’s good to be back.”
“I am sure it has been hard, I went through a similar experience with my own concussions. Please let me know if I can help, and just know, even if people don't say it, we are all here for you. “ Right before I walked into English class, I turned and said, “Know that you’re not
On a sweltering day in July, I was lucky enough to be selling Italian ice instead of hot pizza or sticky cotton candy. These frosty treats were in high demand, forcing me to put on race like blinders in order to keep up with sales. As I was handing a family a few Italian ices, a woman inquired about my now sweaty rubber bracelet.
Everyone in my family wears a grey wristband which says “No One FIGHTS Alone!” …show more content…
I realized as I walked away that the woman could have easily let me pass by. Yet, in seeing this small and inconspicuous bracelet, she decided to help someone she believed to be in need. I think I learned something from this stranger because three months later, as I was walking to class on a brisk September morning, I saw Charlie, a teammate, limping in front of me. This past August, Charlie suffered a severe concussion and intense nerve damage from a hit in football. He had recently returned to school, and perhaps his limp showed how much he was struggling. Having suffered a season ending concussion my sophomore year, I knew how hard it was to be on the sidelines.
“Charlie, it's great to see you again, how are you?” I said.
“Struggling to be honest. The physical therapy has been hard. It’s good to be back outside though.”
“I am so sorry, how’s the return to school been? How long is the recovery?”
“Long, the doctors said at least a year or two. It’s been...weird...but it’s good to be back.”
“I am sure it has been hard, I went through a similar experience with my own concussions. Please let me know if I can help, and just know, even if people don't say it, we are all here for you. “ Right before I walked into English class, I turned and said, “Know that you’re not