When I first arrived in Iola as a freshman at Allen Community College, the towns size didnt shock me as it did many of my peers from out of state. My family has roots in Maple Hill, so I knew what to expect of rural towns.
Yet no matter our experiences with rural America, all of us who are from elsewhere and now call Iola home have left something behind. Weve got to start anew. And while some adjust to these changes, others dont.
All of us students agreed to make the pilgrimage to Iola in search of an education. But what else do we learn while we are here, apart from a myriad of ways to spend ones money at local restaurants and shops? Two years may seem insignificant to someone whos spent decades growing up in southeast Kansas, but to 18-year-olds now on our own, it is a critical time to learn some of the lifes biggest lessons: disparities, commonalities, and empathy.
In my first article, I wrote that Iola lacked diversity, as about 80 percent of citizens here identify as white. But I wont be addressing that disparity again here. Instead, another learning opportunity was presented to me. While following articles published in the Register, teaching at SAFEBASE, and volunteering at the elementary schools, I began to understand our local educational ecosystem. I noticed antiquated facilities, students who wore tattered clothes several days in a row, and others who overate last-minute snacks before heading home. I also noticed signs of abuse and racial biases in the students.
It reminded me of the struggles I saw back home in Topeka public schools. I realized that my job at SAFEBASE went beyond para or instructor; I had to be a role model, a positive figure in students lives. I did that by relating their struggles to my own, even though we live in different communities. Im so thankful for Angela Henrys support in my endeavors, as she allowed me to teach my own class while also introducing me to other ways of serving the community. Her dedication to SAFEBASE students and staff exemplifies compassion. Angela also introduced me to Tracy Call-Keagle.
Although Tracys reputation precedes her, I will say that if we had more people as candid and passionate about helping others as Tracy, the world could probably get a lot more done. I had the opportunity to help Humanity House last winter by collecting donations for Santas Toy Shop. I also got to work with residents of Humboldt and Iola lighting the town squares for Christmas. I even ended collecting 30 pans of cornbread with the help of ACCs Wellness Committee, 12 of which I felt compelled to make myself. I implore people to donate a bit of their time, skills, or money to Humanity House, as they are on the front lines helping those in need. Someone we know or even us may need help one day.
I am a very vocal advocate for learning outside the classroom. It is why I keep myself so busy. My role model over the past two years, who exemplifies the spirit of uplifting folk wherever they live, has been Damaris Kunkler. As former director of community engagement at Thrive, Damaris work goes beyond Thrive, as she has empowered many of the students at Allen to use their two years in Iola to build a sense of community while learning in the process. I credit Damaris for helping my friend Lindsey Temaat and me work to bridge the disconnect between our campus and the town.
It began as something as simple as building a pocket park but led to larger projects like the LaHarpe Community Cleanup with 50 volunteers. The LaHarpe Project has now blossomed. Damaris encouraged us to see the value in ourselves as leaders, not just students, allowing us to implement our skills, not simply regurgitate them in a classroom.
I hope to encourage my peers and successors to continue reaching out and learning from Iola. Through collaboration between Allen students and local residents, we can build community and address common problems. When we remain separate, animosity and misunderstanding flourish.
The reality is that people from urban and rural communities alike experience common problems such as a lack of state and federal support, access to quality healthcare, and poverty. Our time existing in the same community should not be exclusive to our own bubbles. We can all get to know our neighbors, understanding how we are all similar. Doing so has taught me just as much as Ive learned from curriculum, and then some.
