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What I Learned at Davidson
"So I hear today's a special occasion," the waitress mentions while smiling at my family. "Yes! I just graduated from Davidson College," I say beaming. "Oh, congratulations! So, what did you learn?" she asks expectantly. My mouth opens. My brain freezes. "That…," I utter, "…is a very good question."
Through personal interviews, alumni and students tell the collective story of Davidson College. Navigating activities and adversity, friendships and scholarships, and leadership roles and theater roles, interviewees discuss what they learned, what they loved, and how it all affects them now. What I Learned at Davidson gives a voice to former presidents of Davidson College, students still enrolled, and even one remarkable graduate from the Class of 1939. Find out what fills Davidson with honesty, creativity, and interconnectedness and what it really means to be a Wildcat."
Through personal interviews, alumni and students tell the collective story of Davidson College. Navigating activities and adversity, friendships and scholarships, and leadership roles and theater roles, interviewees discuss what they learned, what they loved, and how it all affects them now. What I Learned at Davidson gives a voice to former presidents of Davidson College, students still enrolled, and even one remarkable graduate from the Class of 1939. Find out what fills Davidson with honesty, creativity, and interconnectedness and what it really means to be a Wildcat."
226 pages, Paperback
First published July 31, 2012
7 people want to read
About the author
Allie Coker
2 books53 followersAllie Coker lives and works in Chapel Hill and Durham, North Carolina. She holds a BA in English from Davidson College and an MFA in Creative Writing from Queens University of Charlotte.
Her first book, What I Learned at Davidson, was published in 2012. Her second book, a novella titled The Last Resort, is forthcoming in January 2021 and is her first book of fiction.
Allie has taught creative writing courses as part of the Informal Class program at the University of Texas at Austin as well as at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
She has been an editor with Warren Publishing for four years and was the founder and Editor-in-Chief of HIP Literary Magazine which ran from 2012-2014.
Allie’s works have appeared in the Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, Nfocus Magazine of Charlotte, and several online publications. In 2020, she was selected for a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts residency as well as a Wildacres residency. She is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network.
Her first book, What I Learned at Davidson, was published in 2012. Her second book, a novella titled The Last Resort, is forthcoming in January 2021 and is her first book of fiction.
Allie has taught creative writing courses as part of the Informal Class program at the University of Texas at Austin as well as at The ArtsCenter in Carrboro, NC.
She has been an editor with Warren Publishing for four years and was the founder and Editor-in-Chief of HIP Literary Magazine which ran from 2012-2014.
Allie’s works have appeared in the Yale Journal for Humanities in Medicine, Nfocus Magazine of Charlotte, and several online publications. In 2020, she was selected for a Virginia Center for the Creative Arts residency as well as a Wildacres residency. She is a member of the North Carolina Writers Network.
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
November 29, 2012
First, let me say that I gave this book a 4 out of 5 as an inside joke. I am a Davidson graduate myself, and it often seemed that my professors used grade deflation as a way of encouraging students to continue striving for excellence, even if the work would typically earn a solid A. This book is a solid A-grade assignment.
I found this book to be emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Don't worry, I will not use this space to share my Davidson journey. I would like to approach this review in terms of how the book was organized, how it made me feel as a reader, and what I would tell a friend thinking about reading What I Learned At Davidson (WILD).
The author (Allie) clearly went out of her way to garner as many student and alumni perspectives as she could, including men and women from all walks of life and various generations. I appreciated the organization of the book by interview questions and individual spotlights because I had the option of reading it traditionally or by section, depending on which aspect of Davidson interested me on a given day. I must applaud her on refusing to include only positive commentary about the school. Maybe it is just me, but when I find a book dedicated to a single school by a graduate, my first concern is that it will be a butt-kisser rather than an honest, well-rounded appraisal of that school's qualities. Readers, do not fear! WILD manages to avoid this bias by conveying a spectrum of opinions and feelings about Davidson. Most of the interviewees had overall positive experiences and expressed love and gratitude for what Davidson helped them to learn, but there were also numerous students who were disappointed with their experiences usually because of the intense academically-oriented culture or concerns about diversity. Still, I doubt many colleges or universities can say that an alumnus/a has tried to describe what studying or teaching at that school is truly like, let alone by speaking with such a wide array of people.
Now for my assessment as a reader: I was very curious and excited to read WILD because it promised a bird's-eye view of how Davidson students and faculty view the school and its community. I personally have many positive memories of my four years as an undergrad Wildcat, and reading this book was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Allie's writing easily drew me in and helped me feel connected to the Davidson community. She also links different stories together seamlessly by revealing how many Wildcats are connected by an invisible chain of communication and friendship. The author admits feelings of surprise and also pleasant acceptance learning about these connections, and I felt the same way seeing how my own Davidson journey was connected to others'. I felt as if I was embarking on a journey with the author to try to understand what people ultimately take away from their Davidson experiences and how that relates to the deep love that so many have for the school and its community. I want to re-read and then re-re-read this book, to keep my own memories of Davidson fresh in my mind.
What would I tell a friend? This book is an excellent and frank primer for anyone curious to understand Davidson's personality and inner workings, and for Davidson Wildcats who want an opportunity to read a solid piece of creative non-fiction while reminiscing on their college days. I also think that this book is also a MUST-READ for high school students looking for a small liberal arts college. Too often, they have to rely only on written materials that present data on academic scores and non-specific ratings about the quality of a college campus to choose the schools they will apply to. Of course, nothing beats an in-person visit, but it also helps to have a more human, relatable account of what life at a college is like, in the eyes of its students!
I found this book to be emotionally and intellectually stimulating. Don't worry, I will not use this space to share my Davidson journey. I would like to approach this review in terms of how the book was organized, how it made me feel as a reader, and what I would tell a friend thinking about reading What I Learned At Davidson (WILD).
The author (Allie) clearly went out of her way to garner as many student and alumni perspectives as she could, including men and women from all walks of life and various generations. I appreciated the organization of the book by interview questions and individual spotlights because I had the option of reading it traditionally or by section, depending on which aspect of Davidson interested me on a given day. I must applaud her on refusing to include only positive commentary about the school. Maybe it is just me, but when I find a book dedicated to a single school by a graduate, my first concern is that it will be a butt-kisser rather than an honest, well-rounded appraisal of that school's qualities. Readers, do not fear! WILD manages to avoid this bias by conveying a spectrum of opinions and feelings about Davidson. Most of the interviewees had overall positive experiences and expressed love and gratitude for what Davidson helped them to learn, but there were also numerous students who were disappointed with their experiences usually because of the intense academically-oriented culture or concerns about diversity. Still, I doubt many colleges or universities can say that an alumnus/a has tried to describe what studying or teaching at that school is truly like, let alone by speaking with such a wide array of people.
Now for my assessment as a reader: I was very curious and excited to read WILD because it promised a bird's-eye view of how Davidson students and faculty view the school and its community. I personally have many positive memories of my four years as an undergrad Wildcat, and reading this book was a nostalgic trip down memory lane. Allie's writing easily drew me in and helped me feel connected to the Davidson community. She also links different stories together seamlessly by revealing how many Wildcats are connected by an invisible chain of communication and friendship. The author admits feelings of surprise and also pleasant acceptance learning about these connections, and I felt the same way seeing how my own Davidson journey was connected to others'. I felt as if I was embarking on a journey with the author to try to understand what people ultimately take away from their Davidson experiences and how that relates to the deep love that so many have for the school and its community. I want to re-read and then re-re-read this book, to keep my own memories of Davidson fresh in my mind.
What would I tell a friend? This book is an excellent and frank primer for anyone curious to understand Davidson's personality and inner workings, and for Davidson Wildcats who want an opportunity to read a solid piece of creative non-fiction while reminiscing on their college days. I also think that this book is also a MUST-READ for high school students looking for a small liberal arts college. Too often, they have to rely only on written materials that present data on academic scores and non-specific ratings about the quality of a college campus to choose the schools they will apply to. Of course, nothing beats an in-person visit, but it also helps to have a more human, relatable account of what life at a college is like, in the eyes of its students!
Displaying 1 of 1 review