Dear Diary,
A special memory I have of my time on campus was working with Dr. Burt Burleson to create an on-campus support group for students who had lost loved ones as part of Dr. Jeff Doyle’s leadership class.
My father died in 2011 while I was a student at MCC. I was set on transferring to Baylor to finish my degree. But 1 year later, in July 2012, my best friend died immediately as a passenger in a car crash. By that point, I had applied to Baylor twice and deferred enrollment twice. It finally came together on my 3rd attempt, and I officially enrolled at Baylor in August of 2012.
Armed with a grieving and broken heart, I wanted to help other students who were also grieving. With Dr. Doyle’s prompting, Dr. Burleson and I created the support group called “Good Grief,” and it ran for 3 consecutive semesters.
Surprisingly and fortunately, students came to the group in droves. Though rather unorthodox for college student involvement, helping to create “Good Grief” stands as one of my biggest blessings and one of my most special memories during my time at Baylor.
I also met my wife at Baylor, and we will celebrate 12 years of marriage this summer. I stand on the shoulders of my grandpa and mother as a 3rd generation Baylor graduate.
Ben Byrum (’14)
Houston, Texas
