Getting sick stinks. It always does, probably always will. I find it highly unlikely that I will wake up some day and wish that I had a fever. People sometimes make up that they are sick in order to get out of things, but nobody really wants to be sick.
This is especially true at CNU where there is so much to do, both fun and responsible, that a legitimate sick day is far from desirable. Yet despite the lack of a loving mother to whip you up chicken noodle soup, fluff your pillow and sing you “Soft Kitty, Warm Kitty”* it is still entirely possible to feel taken care of at CNU.
I’ve only been sick a couple of times while at CNU. They weren’t fun times, but they were times I remember because of the friends that took care of me as well as the understanding faculty. But rather than start by describing how nicely everyone treats me when I am an invalid, I’ll tell you about how nice the people at CNU’s clinic are.
Twice I have swung by the clinic in order to be checked out for one thing or another. Both of the nurse practitioners I met were extremely informative as well as friendly. I generally dislike going to any kind of clinic or doctor’s office because I feel like I need to rub my hands with sanitizer every 10 seconds. Yet the clinic at CNU is very comfortable and modern-looking. The people behind the desk are friendly and useful in helping you figure out how your insurance can work with what you need and how you can pay. My experiences there have left me pleasantly surprised at how competent a university’s clinic staff can be.
OK, now on to how awesome everyone else is …
When I’ve been sick at CNU I’ve had friends stop by with extra snacks; they remind me to take my antibiotics, or vitamins, or what-have-you, they ask me if I need anything and more than once I’ve gotten free pizza. I’m certain I’m not the only one at CNU who has found himself surrounded by friends who are willing to look out for them when they aren’t feeling 100 percent and that sort of friendly concern can get you feeling a bit better without any sort of medication.
The professors as well are very understanding. If you are not feeling well and you let them know ahead of class time then they will usually wish you get well soon and will often send some general information on what the class is about and what to prepare for the next class.
There is a fountain at CNU (which at the moment is in the process of being relocated) but it has a statue of three geese flying together. The significance of these three geese is that migrating geese who travel together will not leave a bird behind. If a goose is unwell or injured, two geese will stay with the incapacitated goose until it is well enough to fly, and then they all continue the journey together.
I’ve always felt that the statue and the message behind it best apply to me when I am not well and the people around me help me out while I get better.
*”Big Bang Theory”
