Carson DeLarue '14

Carson DeLarue ‘14 recently visited the Cade Campus to catch up with many of his former teachers and see the improvements. We loved hearing about the impact ESA has had on his life and the significance it played in his story.  After graduation, Carson spent a year at the University of Alabama before transferring to Louisiana State University. He earned a Juris Doctorate from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center in 2021 and began his career with the Attorney General's Office. In 2022, Carson joined the Associated Builders and Contractors of Louisiana, a statewide association representing merit shop industrial and commercial contractors, as Director of Governmental Relations. Today he serves as Vice President of Governmental Affairs, a role in which he lobbies lawmakers and state officials, manages two political action committees that support candidates in statewide, legislative, and judicial elections, and builds coalitions with industry partners. He lives in Baton Rouge with his wife Kelli and their three boys. 

Here's our Q&A with Carson:

ESA helped me figure out what I wanted out of life, gave me the confidence that I could get there, and equipped me with the tools to achieve it.

History was always my favorite subject. Whether I was in Mac’s European History class, Mr. Wood’s independent study on the Civil War, or hearing an impromptu lecture from Mr. Rosen during study hall, the stories captivated me, especially when they involved politics. To the dismay of many of my teachers, I took every opportunity to argue a point. Fortunately, our frequent writing assignments provided a constructive outlet. When I learned that you could get paid to argue about politics without running for office, it was game over as far as looking at any other career path. 

At ESA, I knew my teachers cared about me. They saw potential, cultivated it (when I let them), and allowed me to fail when I pushed in the wrong direction. Through my many failures in high school, I learned that getting where I wanted to go would take a lot more effort than I was giving. From my successes, I learned that I was capable of it.

ESA also taught me the practical skills I use every day: how to research a topic thoroughly, make an argument succinctly, and speak publicly. Just as important, I learned to charitably understand my opposition, engage with them respectfully, and argue my point in a way that ensures they understand my position, even if they still disagree.

While ESA helped me figure out what I wanted out of life professionally, it also heavily influenced what I wanted in my personal life. The teachers and families I got to know at ESA were the most loving and generous people I've ever met, and they gave me a window into how I wanted my own life to look.

Whether it was teachers taking extra time to help me work through difficult material or families opening their homes for late night study sessions and group projects, everyone wanted to help however they could.

Over time, I realized that for many of them, that generosity grew out of their faith. I also saw the joy and sense of purpose that it brought them. I wasn't religious while attending ESA, but they planted a seed that continued to grow after graduation and ultimately led to my confirmation as an adult.

I can't overstate how much the honor code influenced my life. As students, we all answered to the same standard of integrity. We learned how important one's word is, and how quickly someone can lose credibility by violating the trust others place in them.

In my line of work, credibility is everything. Legislators and other public officials sometimes ask me questions where the honest answer doesn't necessarily support the outcome I want. I answer them fully and transparently anyway. Because I'm honest even when it doesn't benefit me, they know they can trust me, and when a decision comes down to which stakeholder is most credible, that trust is my biggest advantage.

As Kelli and I raise our family, I frequently think back to the example set by so many of the great people I met through ESA.

Be ambitious! Seek out challenges. Attempt things that seem impossible. You’re more capable than you realize.

Take advantage of the opportunities in front of you, even if they don’t seem like much. Part-time jobs, volunteer work, or just starting a conversation with a stranger can lead to great things. 

Don’t get discouraged by setbacks. God has a plan, and it rarely, if ever, aligns with our own. Work hard, meet your responsibilities, and He will take care of the rest.