Wallace Community College Selma Blog

Demopolis, Ala. - For Devin Smith, a future built on practical skills begins about 25 minutes from home. The 19-year-old Greensboro resident is pursuing his education at Wallace Community College Selma's Demopolis campus, where he is gaining experience he hopes will help him support himself and his family.

Smith, whose major is heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC), discussed his goals while practicing with a skid steer. As he moved dirt around the training area, he described the value of learning by doing and having an educational option close to home.

His experience offers a personal look at what attending Wallace in Demopolis can mean for students who may assume they must travel to Selma to begin their college journey.

Smith said he drives from Greensboro to the Demopolis campus each day. For him, that commute makes it possible to pursue training while staying connected to the people who motivate him most.

During the interview, he explained that he had learned he could attend Wallace in Demopolis. That local option is now part of his plan to gain skills he can put to use in his own life and future work.

"I like being outside," Smith said. During the demonstration, he described lowering the bucket, scooping dirt from a pile and returning it. He said learning the basic movement took him about 15 minutes, describing his initial experience with the equipment.

For Smith, the experience is about developing useful skills and becoming more self-reliant. He wants to understand how to do things for himself instead of always having to pay someone else to do the work.

When asked who pushes him to keep going, Smith named his little sister and his mother. His ambitions extend beyond completing his own training: he hopes to build a house for his mother and create a future that allows him to give back to his family.

He said Wallace is helping him educate himself and work toward those plans. The skills he is learning represent steps toward greater independence and the life he hopes to build.

Hands-on equipment training takes place at Wallace Community College Selma's Demopolis campus.

Smith also encouraged other young people to keep moving forward as they consider their next steps. His own choice to pursue training reflects his desire to find an educational path that fits his interests and goals.

For this Greensboro student, attending Wallace in Demopolis means learning close to home, gaining practical experience, and working toward a future shaped by the people he loves.

Through student experiences like Smith's, Wallace Community College Selma continues its commitment to Building Pathways. Creating Opportunities. Changing Lives.

Downloadable copy: 
Greensboro Student Builds Skills and a Future at WCCS Demopolis Campus