Tuesday, March 11, 2008
The accommodations that Southern Arkansas University at Magnolia has provided are amazing! In fact, I would argue RLH should visit SAU, should they build new dormitories in the immediate future.
Last night, I slept like a newborn baby, at peace. This morning I woke up at 7:35 to meet Dr. Hattery and Dr. Smith before making the short trek to Stephens to meet with students, faculty, and administrators there. It was truly a powerful experience. The principal gave us the grand tour of his school; which is overwhelmingly African American. We were also informed that the school served a population with eighty percent of students receiving free and reduced lunch. After, the extended tour we had the opportunity to meet students. (This is why I came) These students were amazing in their own rights. Many having overcome big obstacles; yet still in school. For example, one student, a senior, told me how she balanced school with having a 6 month old baby. Another student, a senior, told me how he had lost his mom when he was 6 - I believe - then he went to live with his grandparents, until they died … and now he lives in Stephens with his father. I take students like this, contextualize their current status, and see the potential that lies within yearning to be activated. I can truly say these students inspired me. And, I feel like I did a great duty to society by listening to students from this high school and imparting little sound bites of post-secondary advice that they may not have previously considered.
Before, I forget let me mention that we had lunch with Stephens students at SAU and also had them join us in a lecture by Dr. Hattery and Dr. Smith. And, it was truly rewarding to watch them see how college classes are conducted as well as temporarily interact on a college campus.