Show st student dent L 3 w I t Ode to the un uncommon co In In on Dan Metcalf Horizon Managing Editor The word common is often used when referring to toan toan toan an individual who is surrounded surrounded surrounded sur sur- sur rounded by many peers A citizen is a common citizen and a student is a common student I have heard the term common student used frequently during my involvement involvement involve involve- ment with student government government government govern govern- ment and I have always been intrigued by its usage Webster defines common as pertaining pertain ing to than one I have often wondered if we college students really are common I have come to the conclusion however that some students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents are very uncommon I recently received news of ofa a student who passed away In looking into the details of the life of this individual I found how uncommon and some some- other students are Like many common students students students stu stu- stu- stu dents Tim Gautier enrolled in accounting classes fully intending intending intending in in- tending to to complete an associates associate's degree Tim suffered suffered suffered suf suf- suf- suf from a rare bone disease or brittle bones Measuring only three feet tall Tim was confined to a wheelchair and faced up to the challenges that most students would not un un- un- un Like many other handicap persons Tim had to todeal todeal todeal deal with barriers all the time Tim was always enjoyable to his friends and was very involved involved involved in in- in scouting as well as with his wife and child Another student Brandie Melyin Melvin passed away during last Winter Quarter in a fire at ather ather t ther her apartment One of her two children also died in the acci acci- dent Brandie like Tim was an accounting student who had her own barriers to deal with As a single mother Brandie Brandie Brandie Bran- Bran die faced difficulties that many common students do not She not only had her classes classes classes clas clas- ses to deal with but also had two children to bring up on her own Just recently I received word that a student with whom I had been acquainted d with had pas passed ed away Todd Barnett Barnet had been dealing with death since his youth The Cystic Fibrosis that plagued Todd Jodd most of his life finally took its toll Todd was full of life Even in his personal introduction introduction introduction in in- to our psychology class lass with Larry Christensen Christen en he showed his flair for living and truly as Larry put it lived each day like it was his last All these students showed all the attributes of being uncommon uncommon uncommon un common They were amongst us yet we did not recognize their unique spirits that helped them to survive each day It is for this reason that I give my utmost respect and honor to all uncommon students here at I see so many students every day here on campus and sometimes sometimes some sometimes some some- times I dont don't see se their heir struggles struggles struggles as they do but do-but but when I get an idea of what they they- are going through they give me methe methe methe the strength to go on with my myown myown myown own life and struggles So to Tim Brandie and Todd I thank you for your tion For those interested in contributing contributing contributing ing to the trust funds for the surviving children of Tim and Brandie contact the Horizon office at CC |