Living Democracy in Elba brings new experiences, new friendships
A quote from “Into the Wild” by Jon Krakauer resonated with me this summer. It said, “The core of man’s spirit comes from new experiences.”
My time in Elba as a Living Democracy student connected me to an entire community of new experiences. Within my own state of Alabama, I never truly realized how vastly different life can be just south of my hometown, Opelika, Alabama.
“Community,” is a word almost every person I talked to in Elba used to describe their town. It’s not just where you grew up or where you live. It’s a connection to land, heritage, and people.
There is a passion for each other that I will forever envy. You wave at every car you pass, always say good morning to strangers on the walk to work, and take every opportunity to learn about the other person.
Many Americans can get lost in the bustle of daily life, and it can be easy to forget to live. From what I have seen, this is not the case in Elba. Living and enjoying life at a slower pace comes first.
What is beautiful about small towns like Elba is you do not feel a separation between those around you. Dinner at the restaurant in downtown Elba, The Rabbit Hole, between two people can quickly turn into six as family and friends can walk in by chance and join you.
I truly view many in Elba as a second family. Although it can be daunting to go somewhere you’ve never been and live there for ten weeks, this really has been an unforgettable summer that I am grateful to have been able to experience.
It can be easy to feel like a stranger in any new place, but people in Elba adopted me as their own this summer, and it gave me a connection I do not want to let go of anytime soon.
I quickly began to feel like a son, grandson, and friend, not just the student from Auburn. This is the sense of family Elba gives anyone. There are no strangers in Elba.
It can be easy to feel under-accomplished on slower days, but I have realized it is a misunderstanding of why I was in Elba. I wasn’t there to change the world. I was there to learn above all else. Sometimes visiting someone in their home or getting coffee with someone new completed what I needed to do in Elba.
Learning enables you to carry knowledge and do something greater every day. You learn the needs of everyday people and what is important to them. You cannot change anything without knowing the problems first. This is what I was lucky to have learned in Elba.
Jennifer Amlong at the Elba Public Library made me feel beyond welcome. I felt no different than a close relative. She loves her community and her patrons, and I have felt lucky to get to know her this summer.
She helped me lead an event to teach kids about civic engagement and how they can help others and their community. She was never shy about asking how to help me, which I was so thankful for.
Similarly, the rest of the library staff treated me like family. Amy Willis is a kindhearted and dedicated person who I will miss dearly. She creates the welcoming environment at the library that many, like me, have come to love.
Laurie Chapman and Justin Maddox are incredible people. Their love and motivation to contribute to Elba is truly inspiring. They both taught me so much and have made me feel nothing less than one of their own.
As undergraduate students, we often look for people who set examples of what we want to be and how to achieve it. Laurie and Justin have been that for me. I hope my future career in public service elsewhere can mirror much of what they do for Elba.
I feel I have been able to reach many different organizations and people of this community and hope I left them better than before. I loved getting to know and work with Restoration 154, The Elba Public Library, Fostering Angels, Elba Chamber of Commerce, Elba Historical Alliance, Dr. Anna Head Spence, and Greg and Carol Lolley and all that they provided for me.
Elba truly was a new experience that taught me the importance of life itself. Go to church with a friend, spend time with those around you, and take advantage of all that you are given in life. This is what I believe is the spirit of Elba.
I cannot recommend this program to others enough. I encourage anyone to step out of their comfort zone and experience life from a different perspective through Living Democracy.
This has been one of the greatest learning experiences of my life. Dr. Mark Wilson and the Living Democracy Program at Auburn University enabled me to excel in every way. I have always had a passion for public service, and I am grateful I was given the opportunity to learn and serve others through this program and my time in Elba.
Tags: Elba
