Walker College Memories: Janet Nunnally Wilson
Words by Janey Nunnally Wilson | Image by Ryan McGill
Summer breeze makes me feel fine
Blowin' through the jasmine in my mind
Music has a way of transporting your mind back to a specific time and place, connecting past and present. It can bring back remembrances of people who were once an important part of your life, instantly reminding you of that first dance, that first kiss, or that first heartbreak. Whenever I have my Bluetooth speaker on full blast and I hear a song from my days at Walker College, I welcome that memory like an old friend.
Saturday in the park
I think it was the Fourth of July
Walker College was our park, our place, our little corner of the world—our little junior college in our little town. And we loved it. It’s difficult to put into words what an important part Walker College played in the lives of students and community. It was the center of everything, truly the community’s lifeblood. Those were the days of Rebel Mania, overflowing crowds in Rebel Gym, spring musicals, cheerleading for the basketball team, the Circle K Carnival, and the band! Oh, the band! You’ve never heard such an exciting noise as the Walker College band playing our fight song in our packed-out gym on a Saturday night.
Winter, spring, summer or fall
All you have to do is call
And I'll be there
You've got a friend
My most cherished memories from Walker College involve time spent with friends, many of whom are still a part of my life today. Walker College was close to home (being in my hometown), but it was such a close-knit bubble within the larger community and the perfect place to begin the transition to adulthood—the beginning of independence. I truly could not have done it without the wonderful friends I made along the way. I have stayed connected with many of them through the magic of social media, and those bonds made so many years ago remain just as strong today.
But it was just my imagination
Runnin' away with me
As fun as Walker College was, it was so much more than social events and basketball games. My professors challenged me, helped to broaden my perspective, and prepared me for the next phase of my life. At the time, I could not have imagined the foundational strength Walker College provided me. When we parted ways in 1974 and I loaded up my yellow Toyota Corolla for Auburn, I was ready. I will forever be grateful for the role Walker College played in my academic success.
So far away
Doesn't anybody stay in one place anymore?
Sometimes my days at Walker College seem so far away that it feels like a different lifetime, or maybe even someone else’s life. But whenever I hear Roberta Flack asking, “Where is the love?”, or Gordon Lightfoot singing “If you could read my mind,” or Carly Simon reminiscing about “the good old days,” I instantly go back.
There are places I’ll remember all my life, though some have changed
Some forever, not for better, some have gone, and some remain
Walker Jr. College, you are a lovely memory, a wonderful place to revisit in my mind, a part of my history—and I am thankful for those two years of my life. 78