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In many ways, I have never been much of a student, especially if you are talking about being a student within the confines of a classroom. I've always loved learning, don't get me wrong, but get me inside a classroom for months on end and there is little that can be done to keep me interested in even the most fascinating subjects. I have no real idea how I managed to make it through four years of college. My Latin class in particular almost had the power to ruin my college career. I am convinced that I might have quite school had it not been for my Latin dictionary. It saved my education, and hence, my life.
I realize the previous statement may sound extreme, but it is true. I was so fed up with the stresses of my Latin class in college that I nearly dropped out of school. I guess I didn't have things in the best perspective, but that is how deeply I was being affected by the class. In the sixth week of the fifteen week class I called my father on the phone and finally told him of the truth of my current plight. He simply listened and then laughed at me and muttered two words. "Latin dictionary," he said. I had no idea how much I needed to hear those two words nor how much they would change my semester and literally the rest of my life.
I have absolutely no idea why my Latin professor didn't suggest that I buy a Latin dictionary. I'm actually a little bitter about it now that I think about it. Anyway, I rushed off to a bookstore the next day and purchased the cheapest and biggest Latin dictionary I could find. I had little money, but I felt like bigger must be better when it came to a dictionary.
Over the days and weeks ahead, I poured over that dictionary as I studied for my Latin class. Having that resource taught me an amazing amount that I just wasn't getting in the classroom. I pulled my grade up from a failing score to a B in the remaining weeks of the class. But that's not all that happened: I had a renewed love of learning. Yes, the Latin dictionary was responsible for my pursuit of learning and of new knowledge in many areas. It did little to make me enjoy time in a classroom, but it did inspire me to pursue many of the things I now love.
A couple of years back I went on a mountain trip, alone. I had walked the same path before as I intended that beautiful morning in May. I parked my car on the parking lot and put on my gear. This particular path was one of the more difficult ones, and I did not meet anyone else out there in the wilderness. After a two hour walk uphill I arrived at a cave entrance that I had passed several times in the past, but never had stopped and entered.
This day was different; I stopped, by coincidence, because my legs were a bit sore from a trip two days earlier, and I stopped to stretch out. As I was standing there my eyes caught the cave entrance; and for some reason I decided to take a closer look into the cave. Before going in I learned that my flashlight was missing from my backpack; and that should have stopped me from going in, but I said to my self that I would only go in as far as the light from the entrance went.
I remember going in; and the next minute I woke up on my side, in total darkness and with pain all over my body. I had gotten a big bump on my head that gave me a pounding headache. Not anything dangerous. I tried to get up, but a burning pain from my left leg stopped me instantly.
I found out very quickly that my left leg was totally wet from a continuing bloodstream from a wound on my thigh. Now I started to get worried. I found a lighter in my backpack, and I could inspect my wounds more closely. I didn't look good.
Luckily I always bring a first aid kit with me. My wife made me. I was able to stop the bleeding by putting a pressure bandage around my leg. And for the next two days I survived with the food and water I also carried with me. I can tell you that a lot goes on in your mind when you are in a situation like that. Will I be found? Am I to die here? Will I ever see my family again?
My wife had called the police when I did not show up at home at expected time. And luckily I had told here the location where I went. They found my car and started a search. The next day I heard someone yell into the cave. Do I need to say I felt an enormous relief? I yelled back and can not describe the gratitude I felt for being alive in that moment.
Apparently I had taken a step into the darkness and had fallen 20 feet down. The paramedics told me I had lost a lot of blood, and that without the pressure bandage I would have bleed to dead.
I can truly say that a first aid kit saved my life that day. So if you are in doubt getting a first aid kit or not – don't be.
Thank you for you time.