15 CHAPTERS
Colorado Alpha – Colorado
Submitted By: Ian Engelman ’22JP Warner: A Helping Hand When It Matters Most15 CHAPTERS
Colorado Alpha – Colorado
Submitted By: Ian Engelman ’22JP Warner: A Helping Hand When It Matters Most
The brisk December air in Boulder stung with an icy bite, but JP Warner ’22 barely noticed. He was on his usual evening walk through downtown, headphones in, mind wandering as he reflected on the semester’s challenges and triumphs. It was then he saw her — a woman sitting on the sidewalk, clutching a small, threadbare blanket to her chest. She looked disoriented, her cheeks flushed from the cold, and her hands trembling. A sign next to her read, “Stranded. Anything helps.”
Most people walked by, averting their gaze. But not JP.
He paused, pulling out his earbuds. The woman noticed him and seemed startled, as if she didn’t expect anyone to stop.
“Hi,” JP said gently. “What’s your name?”
“Sandra,” she murmured. Her voice was hoarse, barely audible over the buzz of passersby.
JP crouched down to meet her eye level. “Sandra, do you need help? Are you OK?”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she explained her situation. She had come to Boulder for a job interview, but her car broke down, and she had spent the last of her money on a motel. With no family nearby, she had nowhere to go and no way to get back home.
JP listened intently; his heart heavy with empathy. Without hesitation, he pulled out his phone and began searching for resources. He found a local shelter that could provide Sandra with a warm place to stay for the night. Then, he called an Uber to take her there.
But JP didn’t stop there. As they waited for the ride, he ran to a nearby café and bought Sandra a hot meal and a cup of tea. When he returned, he handed them to her with a smile. “You’re going to get through this,” he said. “Just take it one step at a time.”
When the Uber arrived, JP helped her into the car and handed her some cash from his wallet. “Use this for anything else you need,” he told her. Sandra’s tearful gratitude was overwhelming, but JP simply nodded and said, “Take care of yourself, OK?”
The experience stuck with him long after that evening. It wasn’t about the recognition or the pat on the back — it was about the connection. JP didn’t see Sandra as a stranger in need; he saw her as a human being, deserving of compassion and dignity. For JP, helping others isn’t a rare occasion — it’s part of who he is. Whether it’s offering guidance to a friend, volunteering his time, or simply listening when someone needs to be heard, JP embodies the values of Phi Psi: service, integrity, and kindness. His actions remind us all that sometimes, the smallest gestures can have the biggest impact.
Reprinted from The Shield Volume 146 Issue 1