When move-in day arrived this fall at Methodist University, like most new students, Carleigh Wallace ’29 didn’t arrive alone. By her side was her grandfather, Shawn Bass, who has been her biggest supporter and is now her roommate in Fayetteville. While many new Monarchs said their goodbyes to family, Wallace’s story was different.
When move-in day arrived this fall at Methodist University, like most new students, Carleigh Wallace ’29 didn’t arrive alone. By her side was her grandfather, Shawn Bass, who has been her biggest supporter and is now her roommate in Fayetteville. While many new Monarchs said their goodbyes to family, Wallace’s story was different.
Wallace’s grandmother stayed home in South Carolina to care for Wallace’s great-grandmother, while her grandpa packed up and made the move with her to their new apartment off campus in North Carolina. That sacrifice meant her grandparents had to split their time and responsibilities, but their support for Wallace remained unwavering.
“It’s easier,” Wallace said. “I’m less stressed. They help me out in school, and they’re here when I need somebody. That’s the best thing for me.”
The support is a two-way street for the grandfather-granddaughter duo. Having her grandfather close by has been both reassuring and motivating. His health challenges are part of their daily reality. He recently had a liver transplant and relies on a Dexcom monitoring device to track his blood sugar, and Wallace takes pride in watching over him just as he watches over her.
“I like that part,” she said. “He keeps an eye on me, and I can keep an eye on him, too.”
Wallace says she’s a bit of an introvert. College tours were overwhelming, and the thought of separating from her family filled her with anxiety.
“I would cry, didn’t want to leave their side,” she said. “Even when it was just for students, they were right there with me.”
That’s why MU’s smaller size and community felt right for her. The smaller classes and personal connections gave her the courage to take on college life, and step outside her comfort zone, even as a commuter student living off campus.
Playing for a Bigger Purpose
For much of her life, softball made up Wallace’s identity.
“She been playing softball since she was 7 years old,” her grandfather said. She even planned to commit to playing at MU. However, a shoulder surgery during her high school career forced her to reevaluate. By the time she reached her senior season, she was in constant pain and knew her body and her future needed something different.
“I thought it was over,” she said “I hurt every single day my senior year, but I still wanted to play.”
Ultimately, she chose to walk away from the sport she loved and the opportunity to compete at a collegiate level. Rather than seeing it as a loss, Wallace saw it as part of her purpose. Her own experiences with injury and recovery inspired her to major in Kinesiology.
“I’ve been in Physical Therapy twice,” she said. “Helping people is what I like, I wanted to do athletes at first, but I really like geriatric patients. That’s something I’m going to do.”
Now, her dreams of earning her doctorate in Physical Therapy or Occupational Therapy are rooted in helping others know when to push through and when to step back, just as she learned to do with softball.
“I want to go the whole way. The whole seven years,” she said.
For now, she’s looking forward to the little things: meeting new friends, building community, and navigating this new chapter… with her grandfather by her side.