Luck o' the Gators
How a troll, a pencil and the number 13 help the HSC's own
Like anything, luck has its traditionalists. These are the penny-pouncers, always poised to pluck a heads-up penny off the ground, and the finger-crossers of the world. College of Public Health and Health Professions student Jeremy Eminhizer isn't one of them. He has a pencil, a lucky pencil. This month while the world is celebrating the luck o' the Irish, HSC students, staff and faculty share their stories of good luck, including Eminhizer's own tale of a pencil he likens to Hulk Hogan. So cross your fingers, knock on wood, throw salt over you shoulder and read on.
Troll Patrol
Several years ago a friend gave me a small "wizard" troll doll she had found in a recycling bin (because I haphazardly collect trolls). It was in my car for months because I kept forgetting to take it into the house. It rode on the dashboard, and everyone thought it was very cute. One day I finally took it out. I had a car accident downtown at Emiliano's the next day. The next morning I had a flat tire before going to work and locked my keys in the car after I got to work. The following day a bird slammed into my windshield, scaring the daylights out of me. I put the troll back in my car. Not that I'm superstitious, though
Karen Tillman, J.D., associate director of contracts and related services, Office of the Senior Vice President for Health Affairs
Elephants Everywhere
When I was young, my mother grew beautiful plants by her front door. They were commonly known as "elephant ears" for their resemblance to the gentle giant's enormous ears. People would marvel at the plants as they walked by, and it gave me a sense of pride when I helped my mother care for them.
I developed an affection for the animal, especially the mighty African elephant.
That affection deepened when I went to college at the University of South Carolina and pledged Delta Sigma Theta, whose unofficial symbol was the mighty African elephant. The sorority's founders were leaders in the women's suffrage movement. One founder said she felt the elephant best symbolized the strength of the suffrage movement. Our founders needed luck, and a rabbit's foot just didn't do it. After all, if the rabbit is so lucky, why did his foot get cut off?
Since 1974, I have collected everything with an elephant design. I have more than 300 elephant statues or figurines in a curio at home, in addition to the extensive collection in my office.
It's more than just an admiration of beauty and strength that draws me to the elephant. This animal gives me a sense of comfort and peace when they are around me, and I believe they have brought me good fortune over the years. Elephants remain calm and focused on a purpose, and that is how I try to live my life. My sorority's service mission is to help and be a role model to other African-Americans, and I seek to carry on that tradition. To me, the elephant symbolizes that tradition, so why not surround myself with that?
Gloria McWhirter, clinical assistant professor, College of Nursing
The other lucky number
I don't have a lucky object, but I have had a lucky number since junior high: 13.
Every Friday, my social studies teacher would pick one person in the class to try to answer his "dollar question(s)." We would pick a card from an American history trivia game and had to answer four out of five questions correctly to win the dollar. This was usually challenging for us and most of the time the selected person did not win. Well, one day it happened to be Friday the 13th. My teacher asked someone to pick a number and that person chose 13. The teacher looked in his gradebook. I was the 13th student listed and was chosen to answer the "dollar questions." The first three questions were easy compared to the usual questions. I had to answer that Arizona was the state with the Grand Canyon, that the hula is danced in Hawaii and that U.S. presidents are inaugurated on Jan. 20 at noon, which I knew because it is my mom's birthday.
My fourth question was which U.S. president had the same name as both his father and his son. I had no idea. I looked up at the pictures of all the presidents hanging on the walls in the room. All I could do was guess. My eyes landed on Teddy Roosevelt, and I answered with his name. It was the right answer! My teacher seemed flabbergasted as he handed me my dollar. I probably should have saved that lucky dollar, but instead I treated myself to a delicious milkshake at lunch that day.
Holly Gans, student, College of Veterinary Medicine
Pencil Power
My good luck charm is quite dated. By its appearance, you may think that this good luck charm is just some rickety, beat down, wannabe mechanical pencil. This pencil has seen its share of both good and bad times. Fortunately, its involvement in my college career has been mostly related to success, except for that 8 a.m. chemistry class my freshman year.
Anyway, I have a fond emotional attachment to this pencil, although its appearance is suspect. There is an empty hole where the eraser once was, the clip is broken, it's scratched and the paint is worn down from endless palm sweating through difficult exams. However, prior to all exams and quizzes, I verify that it's tucked in its assigned compartment in my bag. It's a permanent fixture in my arsenal and the only option on test day. This pencil is similar to Hulk Hogan ' he comes out of retirement to prove he's still the best, but only for the main event.
Gazing upon the dreaded Scantron, a campus legend, the adrenaline is pumping. Ice runs through my veins, and of course, lead is running through his. As I put pencil to paper, he is the connection between my brainpower to the small tiny circle that is the correct answer. After the end of another successful exam, I look down at the mechanical pencil, give a head nod to show respect and suddenly all is great in my academic world.
Jeremy Eminhizer, occupational therapy student, College of Public Health and Health Professions
The Candle
My good luck charm is quite dated. By its appearance, you may think that this good luck charm is just some rickety, beat down, wannabe mechanical pencil. This pencil has seen its share of both good and bad times. Fortunately, its involvement in my college career has been mostly related to success, except for that 8 a.m. chemistry class my freshman year.
Anyway, I have a fond emotional attachment to this pencil, although its appearance is suspect. There is an empty hole where the eraser once was, the clip is broken, it's scratched and the paint is worn down from endless palm sweating through difficult exams. However, prior to all exams and quizzes, I verify that it's tucked in its assigned compartment in my bag. It's a permanent fixture in my arsenal and the only option on test day. This pencil is similar to Hulk Hogan - he comes out of retirement to prove he's still the best, but only for the main event.
Gazing upon the dreaded Scantron, a campus legend, the adrenaline is pumping. Ice runs through my veins, and of course, lead is running through his. As I put pencil to paper, he is the connection between my brainpower to the small tiny circle that is the correct answer. After the end of another successful exam, I look down at the mechanical pencil, give a head nod to show respect and suddenly all is great in my academic world.
Jeremy Eminhizer, occupational therapy student, College of Public Health and Health Professions