By : Rachel French, Faith Editor
Marion Matters, Judson College’s annual community service history project, is dear to my heart for many reasons. Mainly, I adore service work and I live to help people. Typically happening on a Friday afternoon late in September, Marion matters in a wonderful opportunity for freshman, as well as any student who wants to participate, to show our Marion some TLC. The group I went with my first year – I transferred in three years ago as a Junior Soph – went to several places. We volunteered cleaning at the Lincoln Museum, organizing at Seeds of Hope, and making cards for senior citizens. It was an experience that I will never forget. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to go last year, but I’m so happy and fortunate that I was able to participate this year.
The place that I went to – I took photos and helped out the girls already working – was Francis Marion. Because I was homeschooled from the middle of sixth grade until the end of high school, I have never had the opportunity to be in a real high school before. The area Francis Marion is in, from what I heard, seems to have a dangerous reputation, and this bad reputation seems to have somehow become associated with this school. This is a shame, because everyone I met there had the warmest smile and warmest disposition, especially Principal Kathy Trimble. We as a community owe it to Francis Marion to help them whenever we can. After all, what would it say about us as a society if we allowed a school to close due to its need for help?
Aside from Francis Marion, one of my favorite places in Marion is Perry Lakes Park. My little took me there last year, and I went up to the top of the birding tower. The birding tower, funded by Judson’s own Dr. Wilson, on one of the trails in the highest birding tower in Alabama. If you’ve never been, go. The experience of being able to see above the trees is an experience that I wouldn’t trade for the world. As a fourth-year senior and the writer of this article, I urge each student who has never been to Perry Lakes Park to visit while you are at Judson.
Many of the girls here who know me can attest that I want to be a teacher, and that I am extremely passionate about education. I wish I could have gotten the change to pop in on the Head Start sites Judson helped with. Because kids love getting to know older kids and young adults, I imagine that this was an extremely meaningful day for the kids the Judson students and faculty interacted with. After all, college students can be a huge inspiration and influence in the life of a young child who is unsure whether or not he or she can go to college. I hope that at least one child at either Head Start campus was positively impacted in a profound way that could change the course of his or her life. I know that Judson’s kind-hearted students and faculty made a difference in the lives of these precious children.
While I regrettably haven’t had the chance to visit the Perry County Public Library, I am dying to visit when I have a day off from homework and classes. Personally, I believe that it’s obvious society would go downhill fairly quickly. This would be because the places listed above are bubbles of intelligence, charges with educating the next generations. Next time you see an old, run-down library, I encourage you to take a look inside. You may find a new home away from home. I know that I found that with my library back home in Florida.
One of the most interesting places in Marion is right by the dorm WMU – the cemetery. Some of the freshman may not know that Julia Barron is buried there! When I took Experimental Psychology last year, we explored the cemetery, and I wasn’t able to find Julia Barron’s grave, and this has become something that made its way on to my “before I graduate” bucket list. I believe that, as members of the Judson Community, we should discover new ways to keep up the grave of one of the most influential people in Judson’s history. Julia Baron fought for us in a time where women had little to no rights, and, at the very least, we owe her the respect of keeping her final resting place as beautiful as we possibly can.
Two places that I haven’t been able to visit are the two nursing homes nearby. Many times, sadly, the members of older generations are forgotten. They die alone, without anyone to remember them. However, I am positive that Judson volunteers made a difference in these peoples’ lives, and I would have loved to be a part of that. Shining, smiling faces and love are all the nursing home patients want in their final years. After all, who would want to be completely alone with no family or friends? I’d encourage each and every student to visit the Southland Nursing Home and ‘adopt’ a senior citizen. They have great stories to share, and they have even greater hearts.
Marion Matters means so much to me, to Judson, and especially, Marion. I urge every one of you incoming students to realize what an astounding difference you, yes, you, made in your community that day. The people who lives you touches that Friday will never forget whatyou did for them. Honestly, to me, that’s more meaningful than anything in the world. If anyone has Marion Matters experiences that they want to share with me, I would love to hear them! Email me at rfrench@judson.edu!
– Rachel French