I grew up in rural Ohio. Looking for a fresh start and new experiences, I chose to go to university abroad and ended up at college in this country.
It was quite daunting at first and, after the initial excitement wore off, I began to struggle a bit. I was a long way from my family and didn’t have a lot of support. It was quite tough.
But then I met Bob Schuster. He was a fellow student. He was welcoming and friendly, and he took me under his wing when I was not coping very well with my life and my work.
He pulled me out of my troubles, taking me to meet his friends. He also introduced me to the sport of rugby, which he loves.
But what made the biggest difference was simply realising that I had a friend who I could lean on for support, that I wasn’t alone, that this guy was looking out for me and was interested in what was going on for me. That changed everything – and I went on to love my three years studying at university.
Bob lives in London now, but I am sure we will be lifelong friends. And I still love rugby, too!
Is there someone you’d like to say thank you to? Write to us at magazine@observer.co.uk
