What Would You Do?

Most of the time, Umpqua sophomore Chelsey Christensen is a typical college basketball player. She goes to class every day, lifts weights, goes to study hall, does individual workouts in the gym, and has a work study study job because she qualifies for federal financial aid. She eats more Top Ramen than she really wants to;not by choice but out of necessity.

Chelsey and I have an arrangement. Once or twice a week, I give her $3 and my Costco card and she drives a mile or so down the road and brings us back hot dogs for lunch. She gets and I pay. That's the deal. It saves her a couple bucks and saves me some time.

Last Friday I saw Chelsey anxiously hanging out by the entrance of the athletic offices and then saw a man around 40 years old walk towards the building. Chelsey rushed out and yelled "Are you Sam?" Chelsey handed him something, they talked quietly for a few minutes, and then they hugged before each turned around and headed back to where they started.

When she walked back into the offices, Chelsey told me that the day before, when she made our Costco run, she found a wallet in the parking lot that contained a social security card, a credit card, a debit card, and $280 IN CASH!!!!

So she did what every (well, probably not EVERY) poor college student who has little or no extra money would do - she used Sam's driver's license info to contact him and gave him back the whole thing!

Chelsey could've told Sam that she had found the wallet without any cash in it and I'm sure Sam would have still been happy that his credit cards and I.D. had been returned. $280 is a fortune to a "starving" college student. That much money could've bought a new ipod, some Jordan's, or nearly two year's worth of Costco lunches for Chelsey and her favorite basketball coach.

Instead, the $280 bought her the peace of mind that comes from knowing that she did the right thing. She even refused a small reward. I don't know how she did in class last Friday, but Chelsey Christensen passed her integrity test with an A+

Not Only In The Movies!

Something happened today that left me speechless, and those of you who know me can attest to the fact that doesn't happen very often! I was in the office this morning when I received a phone call from a former part time UCC student who made an offer to anonymously help one of our players, Mykiea Russell, continue her education. I had never spoken to this person before but just a couple minutes into our conversation I realized I was talking to someone very special.

Evidently this particular student was once in a class with Mykiea and by the end of the term was extremely impressed with Mykie's positive attitude, work ethic, desire to learn, and overall personality. (No surprise here since Mykie is one of the nicest, most genuine people you will ever meet!)

Now if you think this offer was basketball related, you're completely wrong. This generous student has not been to a single basketball game over the last two years and even asked me if Mykiea was any good as a player! No, this offer was made to help Mykiea the person, not Mykiea the player. It was simply offered from one classmate to another.

Imagine a Caucasian outdoorsperson who has always lived in rural areas giving a large sum of money to help a young African-American from inner city Los Angeles without any desire for thanks or recognition! Up to this point, their life experiences couldn't possibly be more opposite, yet from this point on they will always be connected. This random act of kindness will help Mykie get her degree (she wants to be a music teacher) and then Mykie will help dozens of others who then in turn will hopefully branch out and help hundreds of others.

Usually stories like this are mostly found in movie theaters, but this one is real and unscripted and playing out before our eyes. I feel very lucky to have a front row seat and even without seeing the ending I'm giving it two thumbs up!