Chasing one’s dreams, no matter how crazy or seemingly unattainable, was at the heart of a special appearance to Thomas County Central High School students by best-selling author Dr. Delia Owens.
Select youth attended an on-campus presentation by Owens Wednesday, Sept. 18. Owens spoke about inspirations for her novel “Where the Crawdads Sing,” shared a few of her animal adventures from living in Africa, discussed how she snuck science into her book, answered students’ questions and signed copies of her novel.
The event is part of the One Book Thomas County program that encourages the entire community to read the same book and discuss it. The culminating event is a visit from the selected book’s author. Thomas County Schools Digital Learning and Media Services Coordinator Erin Rehberg is a committee member and arranged author visits to local high schools.
“Delia Owens is a product of Thomasville, and her book has been wildly successful,” Rehberg said. “She was the perfect fit for One Book this year. We hope students will learn more about her scientific research, her experience of growing up in Thomasville, and her process of writing a novel.”
Due to Owens’ writing and science background, students in Advanced Placement literature, biology and environmental science classes received event invites.
AP Literature student Laura Hiers, 15, had many questions about the novelist after reading the book.
“In AP Literature, we spend a lot of time analyzing possible motivations of different authors behind their work,” Hiers said. “It was incredible to be able to hear Delia Owens speak about why she wrote the novel and what her thoughts behind the book were. It was so cool to hear a bit about her time in Africa studying animal behavior and how that affected her writing.”
Also, Hiers got to ask Owens about the novel’s poetry, a touch the young poetry lover appreciates. In response, Owens answered that placing clues within the poetry was a fun trick to play on the reader, but it also served a higher purpose.
“Poetry is the medium that we have that expresses the human heart more than any other type of literature,” Owens said. “And it is so emotive.”
Junior Cameron Parker, 16, attended the event for his AP Environmental Science class.
“I read the book and really enjoyed it,” he said. “I don’t usually have a lot of time to read, but I couldn’t put the book down. After reading the book, I just thought it would be cool to meet the person who provided me with such a great story.”
Parker inquired of Owens if there were elements of Thomasville-Thomas County incorporated into the novel. Owens responded there was and gave examples such as friends’ names, eating locales, the small-town vibe and the area’s natural beauty.
Parker found the experience interesting and enjoyed hearing about Owens’ thought process while writing the book.
“I think it’s very cool and generous of Ms. Owens to spend her time influencing and talking to the people who read her work,” he said. “It makes me feel like even when you leave you never forget about the great city you grew up in.”
It took Owens a decade to write “Where the Crawdads Sing.” It wasn’t her day job, but she stuck with it.
“I thought, ‘Well, if I can be charged by elephants and lions, I can write a novel,” she told students. “That was my thinking.”
And Owens offered this pearl of wisdom to attendees.
“My advice is if there is something you really want to do … do everything you have to do, and it will be worth it to get there, wherever that is for you,” she said. “It’s a different place for everybody, but when you find it, you’ll be very happy you worked to get there.”
Rehberg calls the overall experience amazing.
“Dr. Owens was so congenial, and it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience for our students to be able to hear her speak,” she said. “I think the students really enjoyed it and found it to be beneficial. She encouraged them to chase after their dreams, no matter how big, and to continue to study, read and learn all that they can so that they can do what they want to do. That is a powerful message coming from someone from their hometown who has experienced so much success!”
Hiers is thankful Owens agreed to return to Thomasville and speak with current students.
“…It’s inspiring to see that someone as successful as herself came from the same place that I come from,” she said. “It gives me hope that I can do great things in my career one day too.”
And Owens’ go for it approach to life and advice to students positively inspired Hiers.
“I'm going to use that in the future when I want to do big things because why shouldn't I pursue the things I want to do,” she said.
Parker, too, found Owens’ words encouraging.
“One thing Ms. Owens said was that whenever you realize what it is that you want to do with your life, you need to go out and try,” he said. “This really encourages me for my future. I’ve definitely been inspired by Ms. Owens and will never forget her words or her writing.”