Talley Touches Trojan Hearts

Last Monday afternoon (4/24), Whitehall and Harrison students and staff filed into the gym for what was thought to be another typical school assembly. National speaker Terrence Talley, however, provided an experience that was far from ordinary. With a mixture of hysterical laughter and heavy, albeit meaningful, sentiment for the entire staff and student body, everyone felt the impact of his message "don't give up."

While this is a message that is often heard, it is not something that is typically felt. Students and staff alike not only heard the sentiment while listening to Talley's stories, but were also fully immersed in it by the end of the assembly. Addison Sullivan, a senior at Whitehall High School explained, "I would have never expected an assembly to make me feel emotions like that, but what I will tell you is that I was 100% crying by the end of it."

It sounds simple–a hug from someone who cares. In today's world, though, true hugs are not so commonplace anymore. Coya Kelly, a freshman at Whitehall high school said, "It was so cool to see people that I thought didn't care about me, make it a point to come and give me a hug."

Michalah Sherman, currently teaching at Harrison but soon to be Whitehall's middle school English teacher, explained that she "was oblivious to think these would be just simple hugs–some students hugged myself and other staff members for almost minutes at a time. Nearly everyone was crying, and all I could keep telling those hugging me was how loved they are."

Everyone felt the power of hugs from someone who cares. Another student, Jaidyn Denny, mentioned that she'd "never seen so many Whitehall students get along and hug each other." In just an hour, Talley knocked down physical and mental barriers that we never quite understood or realized existed.

Lori Roys, a 9-12 math teacher at Whitehall High school, explained that the assembly "strengthened the bond between staff and students, and helped to reinforce that teachers are adults that can be trusted." Merrick Parnell, Whitehall's 9-12 History teacher felt "it was great to see the staff and students so uplifted and impacted by the assembly. Terrance Talley got us all to laugh, smile, and even get emotional." During the spring, when school reaches a peak challenging time for both staff and students, this assembly was especially wholesome and reminded everyone why we're here each day. Ivar Radcliffe, a Junior at Harrison High School, said that "Terrence Talley's message made you stop and think about things you've been through, and gave a whole new outlook about what others may be going through too."

Alongside his mantra "never give up," Talley also highlighted that, for some students, life is not easy. Some days, surviving is the best they can do. Casey Norbeck, Whitehall's school counselor, expressed that the assembly "was a great reminder that no matter what we are dealing with, we can find positive support in our lives. This was refreshing for me as a school counselor because it hit home on some of the messages I try to share with my students. Find positive adult support that can help you navigate through tough times." Following the assembly with Terrence Talley, Whitehall and Harrison staff and students can be certain of two things: we care, and we are not giving up.