In 1889, an essay entitled The Decay of Lying—An Observation, by Oscar Wilde, appeared in an article of The Nineteenth Century where he concluded that "life imitates art far more than art imitates life." Fast forward exactly 100 years to the release of the 1989 film Field of Dreams and one can see that would be true of 2020 Salem College graduate Shelley Wallace.
Without divulging the entire plot to the film Field of Dreams, one of the secondary characters in the movie (Archie "Moonlight" Graham) hailed from Chisholm, Minnesota. Graham, who actually played profession baseball for the N.Y. Giants, appeared in his one and only contest on June 29, 1905. In the top of the ninth inning he missed out on what proved to be his only opportunity in his life to have a Major League at-bat when his teammate Claude Elliott flied out. Graham returned to the outfield position in the bottom of the ninth inning, but the ball was never hit in his direction.
Upon the conclusion of his playing career, Graham completed his medical degree at the University of Maryland and would eventually serve as the doctor for the citizens of Chisholm. As part of the transition to "Doc" Graham, he examined and provided glasses (if necessary) for the eyes of miner's children free of charge.
Burt Lancaster, who played Graham in the movie Field of Dreams, described his moment with the Giants by saying "you know we just don't recognize the most significant moments of our lives while they're happening. Back then I thought, well, there'll be other days. I didn't realize that that was the only day." He then added, "If I'd only gotten to be a doctor for five minutes ... now that would have been a tragedy."
Wallace can empathize with the life of Graham through her passion for sports and also with the pursuit of a career in the medical field. In the case of Wallace, she played in two games during the 2017 Salem softball season, but never had an official at bat. While she remains close to the game, serving as the assistant coach for the Triangle Twisters softball team in Durham, N.C., there is still a part of her that craves that one at bat at the collegiate level.
"I felt like it was a missed opportunity for a while and I was really upset about it," Wallace described. "I knew Salem head coach Scott Long because he was my travel ball coach. At the time I couldn't play and I felt it was a missed opportunity. Over the years, through coaching softball, I got past it and I managed to stay great friends with many people on the team, including Ashton Lambeth."
Wallace's opportunity to play softball was cut short when she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. The Mayo Clinic describes Crohn's disease as "a type of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). It causes inflammation of your digestive tract, which can lead to abdominal pain, severe diarrhea, fatigue, weight loss and malnutrition. Inflammation caused by Crohn's disease can involve different areas of the digestive tract in different people. This inflammation often spreads into the deeper layers of the bowel. Crohn's disease can be both painful and debilitating, and sometimes may lead to life-threatening complications."
Wallace, like Graham before her, has combined her competitive spirit and love of medicine to help those around her. After getting sick in her freshman year at Salem, she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease as a sophomore. As she describes her experience she says "I was in-and-out of the hospital and surgeries throughout my sophomore year and missed several classes. However, the professors and administration at Salem College facilitated working with me and I managed not to get behind in my classes. My professors would email me my coursework and I was able to take my exams at designated times. My disease has been in remission for three years now and I take medication through infusion treatments and it makes everything less painful."
A huge proponent and enthusiastic graduate of Salem College, Wallace wasn't immediately drawn to attend Salem College at the beginning. "I was from Winston-Salem and didn't like the idea of staying close to home and going to college," she said laughing. "My aunt (Robyn) went to Salem for two years before transferring to the University of North Carolina and was a huge influencer in my life. Staying close to home was also important to my grandmother and the rest of my family as well."
It was one small detail that brought Wallace to Salem College, a place that she adored because of the beautiful campus and the overall feel. "On my birthday I got a handwritten card from Jessica in the Salem Admissions Office and that sealed the deal. Not long after that I got my acceptance letter and student ID, which felt more personalized, so the combination of that and the birthday card sealed the deal for me to attend Salem."
Wallace would earn a bachelor of science in biology along with a minor in Spanish from Salem in 2020 and in 2021 completed her masters in biomedical science at Duke University all while working at a primary care facility as a medical assistant. This position allows her to work with patients for maintenance for chronic disabilities, checkup while conducting physicals. The goal for Wallace, who is applying to medical school at both Wake Forest and Duke, is to become a Physician Assistant.
As a Physician Assistant, Wallace wants to continue an ideology that she learned from Salem College community, while being an advocate in women's health. "Salem College gave me confidence in myself as a woman and in the in science field. I was misdiagnosed with reproductive disorders and no one educated me, or other women like me, on the common theme on misdiagnosis. I had actually talked to colleagues about setting up a day on-campus to speak to the Salem student body about common but unspoken disorders, but because of the pandemic this never happened."
The COVID-19 pandemic not only took away the opportunity to educate her fellow Salem students, but also had a personal impact on Wallace's life. "I was working at a nursing home, while I was attending Salem, and without vaccines at the time I was nervous on how my Crohn's disease could affect the residents and quit my job."
Upon graduation she moved to Durham in July 2020 and in order to pursue her passion had to work with EMT training, doctors, ER physicians and work 12-hour shifts. "I worked as an EMT and with first responders because I wanted to progress in the field. It was the only way was to take care of people, so I had to wash my hands a lot and keep a mask on."
"Being a positive person with a positive outlook, along with working in primary care, I wouldn't normally see this isolation," Wallace added. "But, we get patients who didn't belong in primary care, who are trying to manage COVID symptoms and we have to call 9-1-1. I didn't expect to be thrust into the work force in a pandemic and have that in my face. You can see doctors, nurses and patients who are all scared and are vulnerable."
The ever-positive and upbeat Wallace looks to her future and the impact that she can make in the medical field. "I have a couple of patients who have Crohn's disease or lifelong illness and I understand what they are going through," she said. "I can explain what it feels like, and they know because they have been through something similar. It is a relief to know what you are going through. You feel like you are being heard when you speak of when you talk of the pain."
If life really imitates art more than art imitates life, as Wilde described, then 2020 Salem College graduate Shelley Wallace will hit a home run in her medical career and make the long-lasting impact that she looks to in her career.
Shelley Wallace Q & A
Name (including maiden name): Shelley Wallace
Sport(s) played: Softball
Year of Graduation: 2020: Salem; 2021: Duke
Degree(s) Earned: Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor in Spanish.
Masters in Biomedical Science
What is your fondest memory of Salem College?
One day my senior year, I walked some first-years back to their dorm room because it was late at night. It was the night before my birthday and the next morning I woke up to flowers and a thank you card by my door from the same people! This was one of my fondest memories solely because it encapsulates the community and love that is shared throughout the campus.
Who was the professor, administrator or classmate that inspired you the most while at Salem?
Wow. This one is tough. I had and continue to have so many mentors at Salem that inspired me in all different ways. My classmates and the community inspired me to think differently, to be open minded, and to love fully. I had some professors, most notably Dr. Rebecca Dunn, who taught me how to think of science with a worldly lens. She inspired me to look at science as more than science, to dive into the history and to be thankful for those who had to sacrifice their rights and so much more, for us to be where we are today in the science field. Dr. Laura Watts inspired me to be confident in myself as a woman in science. She was my advisor and one of my favorite professors. She listened to me and validated my feelings during one of the most trying and challenging times of my life and continued to support me even after my time at Salem was done.
How has your degree from Salem helped you to achieve success in the business world?
My degree at Salem allowed me to confidently pursue my Master's degree at Duke. After being taught in a community of driven individuals, where we uplift one another and support each other's educational journeys- I quickly realized that was what I needed to pursue this master's degree. Duke is an amazing school filled with highly educated individuals- and without the education at Salem I received I don't think I would have been at outspoken and confident in myself as I was.
What team concept(s) have you applied in your business and personal life that have proven beneficial after competing at Salem?
Unfortunately, due to medical reasons, I was unable to truly pursue softball at Salem. Even after only attending a few practices and games- I was able to build a community with the softball team and they loved and supported me so much. I think the main concept I learned that I put into play from being a small part of the team- was the importance of acceptance and community. This has helped me embrace people from all backgrounds of life in both my personal and business life, and has allowed me to thrive.
What advice would you give to potential students interested in attending Salem?
DO IT. You will find yourself growing and changing in ways you never thought possible. You will find those forever friends people talk about. You will be challenged; you will be pushed. Most of all- you will be loved. Every part of you! You will be supported by all and experience a change in yourself you might have never thought possible. You will grow as an individual and throughout our community. Salemland is magical!!
What moment did you share/experience with a classmate/professor at Salem that strengthened the bond that you have about Salem?
As I've slightly mentioned a couple of times, during my time at Salem, I got sick. And I mean SICK. I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disorder my sophomore year of college- THE FIRST WEEK OF CLASSES. My journey through the unknowns of hospitalizations and surgeries could have been much worse. But my classmates and the faculty supported me and helped me as much as they could. I was able to finish all of my classes and still excel- all because the faculty were so understanding and accommodating of me. Salem held me up during the worst time of my life and gave me all of the tools I needed to show myself just how capable and strong I am. My sophomore year- no matter how difficult it was- solidified my bond with Salem and its community.
What advice did you receive while at Salem that you apply to the course of your everyday life?
At one point in my college career- Kathy Duckett (aka the lab goddess) looked at me and said "Shelley, it's okay to say no! You have to take care of yourself." This stuck with me and I try to remind myself of this all the time. I've always been such a yes person. And no one had ever really told me I didn't have to be. Seeing a professor care and voice this to me was everything. And even today I try to remind myself that saying no is okay and taking care of yourself is too!