After graduating from OU in 1975 with my bachelor’s in communication, I didn’t really have a job lined up. I had interviewed horribly for a job I would years later get.  However, having worked for Residence Life for several summers, I was offered a Resident Director job that would provide an apartment and pay my tuition—with one condition.  I had to be in grad school.  Piece of cake, I thought.  It was July.  I felt my best bet was to apply to grad school in Communications.

The graduate coordinator was Drew McDaniel, a faculty member in Radio/Television.  The fact that I just got my undergraduate degree from there I felt should help.  I turned in my application to him and waited.  Several weeks went by and the start of school approached.  About a week before school was to begin I went back to his office to check on where things stood.  I asked Dr. McDaniel if my application had been approved.  There was a pause, and then he said, “I forgot about it.  You’ll have to wait until next quarter.”  I explained that I had a job waiting that would pay for school.  He said he couldn’t do anything about it.  What he didn’t say was, “I’m sorry”.  So, I didn’t get the job.

Years later, I was working for OU as Distance Learning Coordinator—based in the TCOM Center.  Drew McDaniel was still working there. Just by chance, he needed my approval for something.  Now, he didn’t remember me but I remembered him.  He got so frustrated when I said I couldn’t give my approval.  What goes around comes around.  Yes, that was petty.  But he did change the course of my life. If it were something really important, like he was drowning, I would have helped him.  Probably.