Sometimes we get lost in the hustle of daily life and forget the things we have: the comforts of a roof over our heads, a bed to sleep in, a toothbrush in the morning, a full wardrobe, even our books for class. Life as a student is hard, but every single day disasters take people's entire lives away from them.
Just this school year, a handful of Ball State community members' residences were affected by fires. The blazes have ranged in seriousness, from the minor fire on the porch of a student residence in December to the demolition of Ball State photographer John Huffer's family home in March. Then Wednesday, three students were left without their homes and most of their belongings when a fire tore through Walnut Manor Apartments.
These three fires have caused devastating losses to those involved - some of them measurable in simple dollar signs, but some of them invaluable and irreplaceable. And perhaps the most significant loss is their peace of mind.
Despite the stress and struggle of these final weeks of the school year, life for most of us isn't quite as bad as it could be.
Those in the Ball State community who have experienced losses as a result of house fires - or other disasters - deserve the sympathy and support of everyone in this community. Whether support comes in the form of hugs and kind words or donations and financial help, the Ball State community must take care of its own. The Ball State Office of Student Rights and Community Standards and the University Apartments have offered assistance to the victims of Wednesday's fire, and the rest of us should give or do what we can to help whenever the opportunity is available.
But beyond assistance, each of us can do something as a result of these recent eye-opening disasters. It's as simple as taking a second look at our lives and saying two words: Thank you.
A more tangible way you can turn these events into something positive is getting renters insurance. You hear about it often enough, but sometimes it takes a visible travesty like Wednesday's fire to drive home the point that no residence is entirely safe from destruction. It might not be a fire; it could be a tornado, an ice storm, a flooded basement or a tree limb through the roof. But no matter what the disaster, renters insurance coverage would be cheaper than replacing your belongings and starting over.
For those living off campus, renters insurance is worth it - because you just never know.
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