A simple decision to step in: How two Hartford High School students turned an ordinary walk from practice into an act of compassion
Submitted By Garrett McGuirt,
HPS Communications Director
What started as an ordinary afternoon after track practice became an unexpected opportunity for two Hartford High School students to show compassion, maturity and a willingness to help.
Juan Romero and Josais Robles were leaving practice when they noticed a man stumbling near the railroad tracks. They didn’t immediately know what was wrong, but nearby Hartford Middle School special education teacher Mary Barkholz-Ingber had noticed him, too.
Mary was leaving work when she saw the man fall. She turned around and went back to check on him.
When she approached, the man raised his hand for help. Mary attempted to help him to his feet, but he was unable to stand on his own. She soon encountered another challenge, the man spoke Spanish, and she did not.
Romero and Robles saw Mary trying to help and decided to step in.
“We saw a teacher helping him and wanted to make sure everything was okay,” Robles said. “Once we realized he needed help, we knew we couldn’t just leave.”
The students began speaking with the man in Spanish, helping bridge the language barrier and allowing Mary to better understand what he was trying to communicate. Through their conversation, they were able to determine what they believed to be his home address.
