Empire’s Emma Spencer adapts with gap year in the Big Easy
By Norm Wheeler
Sun editor
Like all college students, Emma Spencer is trying to figure out her future while navigating the tentative present. Continue college on Zoom, or take a gap year? Pay the same tuition as if you were in classrooms with professors and students, or try to make money for next year? Stay home, or pull up stakes for someplace else? Engage people, or stay away from them?
A freshman at Wayne State University pursuing a major in Geology, Emma finished her first year attending classes online like everybody else. The plan for this fall is more of the same, so she is taking a gap year. “A lot of my classes require labs, and they’re still trying to figure out how to do labs online. And they’re not changing tuition, so I would need more loans.” Emma grew up in Dearborn Heights, then moved to Empire for high school and graduated from Glen Lake in 2019. “I loved my first year at Wayne State. It was not what I expected. There was a lot to be involved with on campus. I volunteered in the Campus Sustainability Office and was busy figuring out ways to reduce plastic waste on campus. There are more people in the urban area who care about the environment than I expected.”
But borrowing money to pay for school when you are just attending from home is not Emma. “That’s not my ideal learning style. I really like to talk to professors and students and be part of the study groups. So instead, I’m moving to New Orleans with my cousin, Spencer, who just graduated from Appalachian State University.” Together they are in the process of finding an apartment in Treme or in Bywater. “I have applied to work on an organic farm, but haven’t heard back yet. So maybe I’ll continue to be a waitress, save money, and return to WSU next year. I’ve never been to New Orleans, I don’t know anyone there, so this is definitely a big change!”
This locked down COVID summer of masks has also been a big change for Emma’s peers, who have in many places struggled to restrict their gatherings. “I’ve seen as we progress through this that people are getting less and less cautious when we hang out. People seem to be ‘over it’ even though the pandemic is not over. At first there were lots of posts about socially distanced gatherings, but not now. That’s one reason I’m glad to not be going back to school. All of the games, meetings, and social gatherings either aren’t happening or they shouldn’t be. I guess it depends on how strict the universities are going to be. Last week the U. of North Carolina started face-to-face school, then sent everybody home again when lots of people got sick.” Many of Emma’s friends just didn’t return to Leelanau County this summer because of COVID-19. “Most of my friends stayed where they were in school. Those who returned have gathered for picnics where we can stay apart. We’re lucky to be where there’s a lot to do outside. But there are still big groups hanging out.”
It has been a busy summer of gathering at Joe’s Friendly Tavern in Empire where Emma is a waitress. Joe’s had inside service for a while, but moved outside to patio-only seating in early July. “Mostly because it’s easier to take proper precautions outside,” Emma explains. “We can keep all of the tables spaced at least 6 feet apart, and we sanitize after every table is finished. Masks are required of everyone when they’re not seated. Because of the big number of visitors, it’s hugely important that the staff is cautious so that we can stay safe and stay open.” Several restaurants and pubs in northern Michigan have posted online complaints about the difficulties they are having with folks who don’t want to mask up or who get snarky with the servers when things don’t happen as usual, but this hasn’t really been the case in Empire. “For the most part people have been really great at helping things to run smoothly. There are longer wait times as we sanitize, but most everyone understands. Sure, there are always people who are going to be upset about something. We’ve had some people who take it personally when things don’t go exactly as planned. The new rules are posted, and most accept that this summer is different.”
Not content with just one job, Emma is the weekly Empire Farmer’s Market master and the assistant master at the market in Glen Arbor. “I have really loved getting to know more people in the local business community. All of the vendors have done an amazing job adapting.” This summer’s new rules include no sampling of foods, and masks are required in the market area. “We also ask that people keep a safe physical distance from anyone who’s not in their household. In Glen Arbor they try to limit the number of people around the market area to 150. We’ve had to cap numbers and form a line. Empire’s market is much smaller so that isn’t necessary.” The sign at the entrance to each market says: Mask on – Wash up – Spread out – Be kind. “It’s nice to remind folks to mask up when many don’t remember to when they’re outside. So far everyone says they feel comfortable, and many say they wouldn’t come to the market if there was no mask rule.” Emma says that both farmers markets are staying busy even this late in the summer. Glen Arbor’s Tuesday market runs until Sept. 8; Empire’s Saturday market runs until Sept. 12. Only a few vendors chose not to participate in Glen Arbor this summer, and Empire has more vendors than usual.
What does Emma think she’ll remember when looking back on this busy, crazy summer? “It’s weird meeting people and not shaking hands. We don’t want to touch anybody right now. I think this pandemic has brought people to extremes in both good and bad ways. We will remember feeling frustrated by the limitations and by the selfishness of some. But the way we have come together to support small businesses will be a good memory. We will remember how we felt more than what little things we had to do.” Finally Emma admits, “I don’t know what I’ll be doing next summer . . .” But it’s clear that wherever she ends up, and whatever she does, Emma Spencer will be thoughtful, creative, hardworking, and busy!
