A Student for Life

In 1823 Samuel Hall started the first school. In 2000 Samuel Hall continues to enjoy the profound gift of learning that Samuel Hall of 1823 believed in so strongly.

To: The Beloved Mrs. E.M. (Teacher),
The Beloved Mrs. H.-T. (Mother)

At: Central High School & Screven County High
Re: A Student for Life
From: Samuel Hall, Sr.

Dear Mrs. E.M. & Mrs. H.T.:

You have changed my life in ways that I am just now beginning to fully appreciate. Thanks to you I am proud to say that I graduated this past May from American University! Your respect, encouragement and unwavering faith that I could live up to your high expectations enabled me to fulfill a life long dream as well as satisfy a promise I made to my mother on her deathbed that I would finish college. The opportunities and obstacles that were part of the journey towards realizing my college dream, I now recognize twenty years later are indeed gifts from God.

Coming of age in rural Georgia, during the 50s, 60s and 70s was, as you know overshadowed by economic hardship, ignorance, and prejudice. I began working at the age of eight years old. My family lived and worked on a dairy farm. I woke every morning to the sound of my mother's voice, which meant that it was 5 am and time to start the day. First we would walk a mile to the dairy farm where we worked for three hours. Afterwards we had to run back home and get dressed for school. This daily routine caused a lot of tension at home and even at school. Early on I didn't understand why I didn't enjoy school like the other kids. I just knew that I didn't like to live and work on the farm. It was so smelly! Then one fateful day Mrs. P., the high school secretary, said to me, "If you are thinking about college -- Forget It! You are too DUMB!" Perhaps she was just having a bad day. All I know is that her cruel comment has haunted me for twenty-five years. I bring this up because we must not forget how sensitive kids are to negative comments even and especially those who look so strong and tough on the outside. Despite these difficulties, my fascination with learning and educated people took root.

I always hoped that my educational experiences would somehow take me beyond my humble start in Georgia. From the beginning, the inspiration to take my studies seriously came from my mother. Later, my high school football coach, who showed so much compassion and interest in me as a person, became another source of motivation. Then of course there is the Beloved Mrs. E.M., my 3rd and 6th grade teacher, who showed me how to be good student and guided me into that role. Who would have believed that the class clown would eventually be a college graduate! You did Mrs. E.M.! I can't tell you how grateful I am for your faith in hard work and the limitless creative power of the mind. Your example has led me to discover not only the importance but also the necessity of giving back all of the gifts that life have given me. Now as I prepare to enter the teaching profession, I cherish the opportunity to bear witness to the truth that one does not possess knowledge until they give it away.

I am fortunate today that I am able to examine my past experiences and place them within a context of meaning and purpose. Although my quest for learning and teaching has not been easy and I still have much to learn, I am resolved to make a difference in the lives of students of all ages. This is partly because I am now a proud parent of two sons. I've had the blessing and thrill of seeing a child learn to read, write and count. Moreover, I've come to believe that nothing will shape our future more directly and dramatically than the way in which our youth experience learning. I strongly support reflective teaching methods and the movement to teach our children how to take responsibility for their learning and become independent thinkers. Looking back over a span of 30 years, I have come to the conviction that I shall never again take my education for granted -- nor will I allow anyone else too either! Today, I cherish the opportunity to support children in honoring their own intuition, imagination, and natural born instincts as they struggle through the growing pains of learning.