From University Place (UP), to campus, and back again, Alex May can be found striking up conversation and friendships on the University shuttles.
Since May’s sophomore year, he has created strong friendships with each shuttle driver. He is a senior Carolina native from Clemmons, North Carolina, and is in the LIFE program at Coastal Carolina University. This program offers May and other students with intellectual and developmental disabilities, support in academics, career preparation, independent living and engagement within the Coastal community.
May’s favorite way to engage with the community is through the shuttles. Since living at UP since his sophomore year, his primary way to get to campus was, and still is, through the shuttles.
“When I see all the shuttles, I just like to get on” May said.
When he is not riding the shuttles, May works at Doubletree Resort Oceanfront doing landscaping work. Through the LIFE program, May has gotten the opportunity to spend most of his senior year working on an internship at Doubletree.
Even though he must take a separate bus to his internship, he likes to jump on the shuttles when he gets back to hang out and talk with the drivers.
“Monday through Thursday I do an internship at Doubletree, but after I do my internship, I take the shuttle” he said.
Although this year he only has one class on campus, May can still be found riding the shuttles most weekdays and even on the weekends.
Through his conversations with the shuttle drivers, he has built strong friendships with each one of them. Although May does not necessarily have a favorite driver, he is on a first name basis with most of them. May said he really enjoys talking to Tom, Rick, Pete, Karen, Hans, Evelyn, Elaine and Isabella.
These friendships inspired the shuttle drivers to offer May a job in the summer. Following graduation, May intends to go back home to North Carolina to find a job, but is still considering taking the opportunity.
He said, currently, his conversations with the shuttle drivers consist of discussing the end of the semester as well as what each of them have going on in their lives. Although May will not be on the shuttles much after commencement, he plans to stay in contact with all the shuttle drivers.
May thoroughly enjoys talking to each of the drivers and encourages everyone to sit towards the front next time they ride the shuttle and strike up a conversation with the drivers.
