For Erin Price, America Reads has been more than just a service opportunity but a reminder of how education and compassion can change lives.
When Erin Price ‘26 first came across the America Reads tutor position on Elon’s Job Network, she saw it as a chance to reconnect teaching and working with children, two things she loved.
After stepping away from her teaching position at a local dance studio, Price wanted a new way to help kids learn and grow. Joining the Kernodle Center for Civic Life as an America Reads tutor gave her that opportunity. Since then, Erin has spent her time fostering literacy skills among local elementary students, helping them build confidence and discover the joy of learning.
“America Reads got me out into the community I would have otherwise missed out on,” she explained. “It’s easy for students to stay within the Elon bubble, but expanding out to the surrounding towns really helps ground you. It makes Elon feel like home, not just your college.”
Through her work, Price has gained a deeper sense of purpose and connection, both to the students she teaches and to her own personal story. One of her most powerful memories came during her first year as a tutor, when she worked closely with a student who had hearing loss and struggled to recognize letters. With patience and consistency, Price and the classroom teacher collaborated with the child’s parents to address his hearing difficulties. Eventually, he received hearing aids, and Erin vividly remembers the first session they shared after.
“His face lit up when he could finally hear,” she recalled. “It was such a huge win.”
The moment carried special meaning for Price, who faced similar hearing challenges as a child, including difficulties in school, and she feels grateful to be able to help other children.
For Erin Price, America Reads has been more than just a service opportunity but a reminder of how education and compassion can change lives. Her experience highlights the Kernodle Center for Civic Life’s mission to connect Elon students with meaningful community engagement that creates lasting impact.
To other students considering service work, Erin offers simple advice: “Give it a shot. You never know how it’s going to change you for the better.”