The Ledger

Cochran resident Emmie Davis earns Eagle Scout rank, turns love of reading into a lasting gift to the community

By Becky Holland

COCHRAN — At 18, Emmie Davis already knows something about finishing what she starts.

She spent years working toward the highest rank in Scouting. She kept going when her troop disbanded. She kept going when much of the work had to be done on her own. And she kept going even when there were people who didn’t believe a girl should be in Scouting in the first place.

Now, as of press time, Davis holds the distinction of being Cochran’s first known female resident to earn the rank of Eagle Scout.

“It is amazing,” Davis said of the accomplishment.

But perhaps the most visible evidence of her journey isn’t an award or badge. It hangs outside Tenth House Consignment Shop in downtown Cochran, filled with books waiting for their next readers.

For her Eagle Scout project, Davis designed and built a Little Free Library, combining her love of reading with the leadership and service required on her journey to Eagle.

And when she says she built it, she means it.

Davis designed the library, helped construct it, screwed in most of its screws and spent approximately 36 hours painting it and allowing the paint to dry.

The result is unmistakably hers.

The little white library resembles a house, complete with a roof designed to look like a book. Its sides are decorated with colorful wooden book spines bearing the names of books and authors. The roof features artwork inspired by Sarah J. Maas’ Throne of Glass, one of Davis’ favorite books.

The project began, appropriately enough, with a lot of ideas.

Davis scrolled through Pinterest and made sketches until she came up with the design she wanted. She estimated the design process took about a week. Construction took approximately two to three hours, followed by the much longer process of painting and adding the details that make the library uniquely hers.

Davis received permission from the City of Cochran to place the Little Free Library outside Tenth House Consignment Shop. She stocked it in part with books from her own collection, and it has been serving the community since March.

Giving away a few books may have been easier for Davis than for some readers.

She is an avid reader who estimates she has read more than 200 books and has large bookshelves filled with her collection at home.

She is currently reading Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland and counts Throne of Glass among her favorites.

A girl who wanted to Scout

Davis’ path to Eagle began long before she was able to become a Scout herself.

Her brother was involved in Boy Scouts, and Davis was frequently around the activities. She enjoyed what she saw and wanted to participate, but at the time, girls weren’t allowed to join.

Eventually, that changed.

When the opportunity opened for girls to participate in the Scouting program, Davis joined with a goal already in mind.

She wanted to become an Eagle Scout.

The journey wasn’t always easy.

For part of that time, Davis was a Lone Scout and had to complete much of her work independently. Her troop eventually disbanded, and her brother left Scouting.

Davis didn’t.

A troop in Dublin welcomed her and quickly became part of the support system she needed to continue her journey. Along with supportive family members and friends, they helped Davis work toward the goal she had set for herself.

There were also naysayers along the way.

Davis encountered people who didn’t believe girls should be allowed to participate in a program that had traditionally been for boys. One person in particular told her that girls couldn’t do what the boys did.

Davis kept working.

She completed the requirements.

She earned the rank of Eagle Scout.

And when asked what that person had to say after she accomplished what he had said a girl couldn’t do, Davis’ answer was simple.

Nothing.

He didn’t say anything.

Davis doesn’t like to give up. If she starts something, she wants to finish it.

That determination carries into other areas of her life.

Davis, who was homeschooled, graduated from high school this year. She has been a dancer for 16 years and has also dabbled in painting and sketching — artistic experience that came in handy when it was time to transform a wooden structure into a colorful celebration of books.

She is taking a gap year and currently works with her mother at Tenth House Consignment Shop. She also works as a junior ranger at Camp Thunder in Molena.

Her long-term goal fits naturally with that work: Davis hopes to become a state park ranger.

Her advice to other girls who may want to follow in her footsteps and work toward becoming an Eagle Scout is straightforward.

“Go for it,” Davis said. “Work hard.”

After a journey that included determination, setbacks, support, doubters and ultimately success, Davis also has some advice for the younger version of herself.

“Don’t be so hard on yourself,” she said. “It will only hurt you in the end. It is OK to give yourself grace.”

Outside Tenth House, the Little Free Library Davis created continues doing exactly what she intended it to do.

Someone leaves a book. Someone else discovers it. A child or adult opens the little glass door and perhaps finds a story he or she would never have encountered otherwise.

For Davis, the Eagle Scout project may be completed.

But every time another reader opens that little door, the service behind it continues.

And for a young woman who loves books and doesn’t like to leave something unfinished, that’s a fitting legacy.

Photos by Emmie Davis