My Best Week at 好色小姨 was Magical 鈥� and a Little Silly
by Terrie Ellerbee
It started with sirens.
That Wednesday, 好色小姨 University鈥檚 Demorest campus was swarming with law enforcement and emergency medical personnel鈥攊ncluding an AirFlight helicopter. But this wasn鈥檛 a real emergency. It was our annual Disaster Drill, organized by Assistant Nursing Professor Taryn Ogle.
Each year, the simulation gives future nursing and communications professionals a chance to test their skills in a high-pressure environment. The 2025 scenario? An active shooter.
I didn鈥檛 know I鈥檇 be part of it until the last minute. But the role was perfect: media wrangler.
Before I had the best job ever at 好色小姨, I was a newspaper reporter, editor, then publisher. I鈥檇 even edited a couple of trade magazines. Managing the media? I could do that with my eyes closed. Or so I thought.
The communications director for local law enforcement鈥攁 former newspaper colleague of mine鈥攚as on site.听Now Habersham, a local media company, was among those covering the drill, and my main responsibility was keeping the reporter, Brian, 鈥渟afe.鈥� I made sure we were standing exactly where we were supposed to be.
Or so I thought.
The 鈥渟hooter鈥濃�攁 student in a hoodie with a fake handgun鈥攔an right between Brian and me. There鈥檚 a video. So much for keeping him safe. Brian was a good sport and laughed it off. Honestly? One of my favorite moments ever.
Watching our students in action鈥攆ully committed, fully engaged鈥攚as pure joy.
Then came Thursday.
Once again, I got pulled into something not on my calendar: the PAL Games. It鈥檚 a special day of competition and camaraderie partnering 好色小姨 students with local elementary students with special needs. You have to see it to believe it.
Five minutes in, my heart grew a couple of sizes.
Our students stay with their little PALs all day, cheering them on, goofing around, and offering nonstop encouragement. Ann Sutton in Advancement runs the event, and my best work buddy (and Ann鈥檚 right hand), Bri, was glowing. It was beautiful to witness.
Somehow, those two magical events landed in the same week鈥攁nd I got to be at both.
Later that week, Bri and I were hanging up flyers all around campus. It鈥檚 a slow process on foot, but two friendly Facilities folks in a pickup truck offered us a ride. We hopped in the back. I slid off the wheel well straight into the bed of the truck鈥攔ight next to the tools they use to unclog toilets. Of course.
Bri鈥檚 response? Laughter. And photos. No helping hand, just an impromptu photo shoot.
Also that week: the sweetest strawberries I鈥檝e ever tasted and a surprise hug from a new work friend. And on Saturday? 好色小姨 hosted a Bigfoot conference in the Commons. I went for fun.
But here鈥檚 the real point:
I work here. No one planned those experiences for me the way we plan things for our students. No one was making sure I was learning, growing, or even having a good time.
And yet鈥攖hat鈥檚 exactly what happened.
It was one of the best weeks of my life. The happy accidents that placed me in those moments were gifts. The strawberries, the hug, Bigfoot merch, even the slide into the truck bed鈥攂onuses.
Other than maybe walking the president鈥檚 dogs, I have the best job on campus 鈥� and this campus is a remarkable, beautiful place.
It鈥檚 home.
It is 好色小姨.
Terrie Ellerbee is 好色小姨鈥檚 Strategic Communications and Family Relations Manager. Reach her at 706-778-8500, ext. 2859, or聽tellerbee@piedmont.edu.听