As college students, we pretty much believe we are invincible, even untouchable. We allow ourselves to get comfortable and cozy under that cream and crimson colored blanket that shelters us from the outside world. We often forget that bad things do happen, especially when we least ?expect it.
I did not expect that someone would break into my off-campus home.
Last Tuesday evening, a masked man kicked through the double-paned window to the living room of my house, shattering glass everywhere. I was home at the time, as well as my four other ?roommates.
Without entering, the thief reached his arm through the window and frantically grabbed some cash sitting on the nearby table and immediately fled. Two of my roommates were sitting only feet away when it happened. Thankfully, none of us were hurt.
He stole a whopping $12 in cash. Correction: it was $11. The genius dropped a dollar as he cowardly ?ran away.
We see stories in the paper about people getting mugged or cars getting vandalized. We receive crime alerts about students getting robbed or delivery drivers getting hit by elusive blow-dart shooters.
Yet, we never think that something like that could ever happen to us.
So many students walk to class with their headphones in, music blaring. I admit to walking through campus with my eyes glued to my cell phone, attempting to text without tripping or running into someone. It doesn’t ?always work out.
We allow ourselves to become oblivious to our surroundings. But doing this also allows us to become ?targets because we aren’t paying attention.
Growing up in a safe neighborhood in northeast Ohio, I have been fortunate enough to never worry about my home getting robbed or my car stolen. Many of my high school friends, albeit foolishly, would regularly leave their cars unlocked. The couple I babysat for never locked their house.
However, that is no excuse for me or for others to let our guards down.
Along with $12, this man in a ski mask stole my and my roommates’ sense of security and peace of mind. In turn, he replaced it with feelings of vulnerability and fear.
This experience was terrifying and bewildering, but it was also very sobering. Now, I keep pepper spray in my pocket instead of my phone. I have stopped listening to music when walking ?off-campus.
All you fellow students out there, please always be cautious of your surroundings, especially when walking out late at night. Always lock your doors, even if your roommates are home. While our intruder broke our window, he could have easily busted through the door ?as well.
Remember to always stash your belongings in a safe place and never leave a wallet or purse in plain view of a window or in your car. And certainly never walk back home alone at night, no matter how invincible you mistakenly think you are.
Sometimes bad things do happen when we least ?expect it.
nrowthor@indiana.edu
