Last week, I thought I lost my water bottle. I was at Gorgas, but my bottle wasn’t. I panicked because my bottle is my best friend, and not having it around makes me feel unlike myself.
After a few hours of a bottle-less grind in the library, I went back to my dorm. I saw my bottle on the table, and the relief I felt in that moment became the highlight of my week. My bottle bond started in high school when someone pointed out that my personality might be carrying a water bottle everywhere. It is. I once prepared a eulogy for a plastic bottle I had to discard, but that’s a story for another time.
The thought of losing my bottle made me think about the numerous people who might have misplaced or lost something dear to them on campus, which brought the lost and found system to my mind. A friend had mentioned to me sometime earlier that the lost and found system on campus isn’t talked about as much as it should be, so I thought I should check it out.
College life is fast-paced and chaotic. Between rushing to class, hanging out with friends and juggling responsibilities, it’s easy to leave behind your water bottle in the library, forget your laptop charger in your class or misplace your favorite hoodie at the gym. When you’re a student on a campus as large as ours, it can get difficult figuring out what to do when you misplace something. That’s where the lost and found comes into the picture; it can become a second chance for staying responsible on campus.
Our campus has a great lost and found system. The University of Alabama Police Department manages all lost items reported on campus, and it also maintains a detailed inventory list to confirm whether or not your lost belongings have been received. Taking this proactive step to check the inventory list can save you the hassle of searching multiple locations.
If you stumble across something that isn’t yours, you have two choices: walk away and let fate decide its future, or be a responsible human and return it to a lost and found location. I recommend the second option, as there’s no better feeling than knowing that you just saved someone from a personal meltdown over lost AirPods, a laptop or even their water bottle. Any lost item can be turned in to the information desk at the UA Student Center, circulation desks at libraries, front desks at the University Recreation Center and area desks in residence halls. By turning in lost belongings, you’re not only helping someone else but also contributing to the culture of trust and kindness on campus.
If you see your belongings on the inventory list and need to retrieve them, you’ll also find the steps to retrieve them online. Lost and found systems on campus are a great reminder that we all need to help each other out every now and then — our campus is only as supportive as the people who roam it.
The lost and found isn’t just a collection of random items; it’s a reflection of the shared values and connections within your campus community. Each time someone turns in a lost wallet or retrieves their lost jewelry, it’s a reminder that even in the hustle of college life, people look out for one another. So next time you lose something, or find someone else’s belongings, remember the power of the lost and found. More than a place for misplaced items, it’s where second chances happen.
