Sunday morning I woke up, and the last thing in the world I wanted to do was go away from home again. I was exhausted from a week of late nights at Girls State and saw Emerging Public Leaders (EPL) as just another camp that would drain on my mental and physical reserves. In that respect, I was right, but my experience here has been so much more than that of a traditional summer camp. It's only been three and a half days since the group arrived here, but I've already had experiences that will last a lifetime. The physical and mental challenges it provides are worth the work.
I came to EPL with a broad range of knowledge of national politics, but my education in state and local government was sorely lacking. The very first seminar the group attended was a lesson on state and local government by Dr. Glen Halva-Neubauer. He did a fantastic job preparing us to meet with Greenville
City Councilwomen Jil Littlejohn and Amy Ryberg Doyle later in the day. It was incredible to listen to these two women's experiences navigating the world of local politics while juggling families and careers. We even were briefly able to meet Greenville's mayor, Knox White.
Another activity that was particularly enjoyable was our visit to the Frazee Dream Center. This organization holds an after-school program and a summer camp for at-risk kids in 5K through 5th grade. The EPL students and staff volunteered at their summer camp, and we were able to read with the kids, play some games like kickball and Simon Says, and help them with crafts. It was such a gratifying experience to be able to encourage these kids and give even the smallest bit of help that I could.
One of the things they don't mention when you apply for EPL and when all of the information and forms are sent is how great the people here are. Our two counselors are our friends as well as our leaders, and the eleven other EPL-ers here are fabulous to be around. The first night we were here, we played an impromptu game of freeze tag in the dark that lasted for 45 minutes. Needless to say, we were worn out by the time we were done, but it helped us get comfortable with each other. Mafia, an EPL tradition, allowed us to laugh with each other and become much closer.
Another bonding experience was the pool party at Furman's president's house, White Oaks. The challenge of setting up a volleyball net brought us together to solve a problem (This sounds cliche, but it was incredibly difficult to find a way to make that net stay up!), and it was nice to be able to let loose and splash around with everyone. I especially loved playing with our advisor's children. Dr. Culclasure's kids were swimming with us and took a particular liking to Hollis which manifested itself in an amusing game to watch: Douglas chasing Hollis around the pool with a toy sword and a water gun. The kids were a ton of fun, and the younger ones, Bailey and Anders, were adorable. Having the opportunity to get to know our advisors outside of a strictly academic setting was a beneficial experience.
Today, we attended a seminar on ethics, and all of our bonding time led to an environment where we felt comfortable having a lively and highly polarized discussion about ethical decisions. I have never been a part of a debate where people defended their positions so forcibly and poignantly, and I attribute that to the friendship between everyone in the program and the fact that everyone here is very smart and informed on issues.
My final observation is that Furman's campus is gorgeous. The school is in a fantastic setting with a picturesque lake and lush woodlands surrounding it, and the architecture is attractive. Many of the campus' gardens are breathtaking, but my favorite is the rose garden next to the dining hall.
EPL is a program that has a lot to offer, and I'm excited for the rest of the week! I hope it's just as good as the beginning half.
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