Brother Schmidt - Day 9

Brother Schmidt was one of many influential advisers I had at BYU-Idaho, but he was probably the one that I'll remember the most. About a year before I worked with him, he was bucked off a horse and paralyzed from the waist down. From that point he underwent surgeries and extensive rehab to get him back to work. The first time I met Brother Schmidt, I noticed his wide smile. He was happy regardless of the wheelchair in which he sat. He had a way of being always being positive. Brother Schmidt taught me how to teach with questions or, in other words, use the Socratic method. This type of teaching has been instrumental in my learning and Brother Schmidt's example of asking the right questions always conjured thinking. I always appreciated that about him.

Anyway, I had the opportunity to go on a Project Inspire (week long service project) with Brother Schmidt and it was a remarkable experience. He always found a way of helping out despite his limitations. He could help assemble and build and he was good at it too. His love for service still inspires me today.

I remember one semester sitting inside of an office with a window looking out into the hallway on campus. Tears of happiness dripped onto the paper I was writing on when I saw Brother Schmidt, with all of his strength, take a few steps with a walker in the hallway. I remembered when he told me several doctors said he would never walk again but he was determined to prove them wrong, and there he was walking. What an incredible man. I am so grateful to have known him and to have learned from him.

 

Brother Schmidt, his daughters, and some friends.

                              The P.I. group with Brother Schmidt