The Arrow Spring 2018

President’s Message The waitress seemed a bit down. Of course pouring coffee for an old man like me in a breakfast room in a Holiday Inn probably isn’t the greatest job in the world, but I thought I would speak to her and try to brighten up her day. So, cheerily, I asked, “How are you today?” Sour and indifferent, she responded, “I’m here.” She muttered it with a tone that meant I could fill in the rest of her unhappy response … as in “I’m here—of course I am miserable.” Or, “I’m here—in this place—how else could I be?” I believe it is likely that if this young lady had been elsewhere, she would have had the same reaction to the same “How are you?” question. Serving coffee in an upscale restaurant? “I’m here.” At home without a job at all: “I’m here.” A student at Oak Hill Academy? Hmmmmm … You see we work with students who have sometimes been unmotivated, so I’ve noticed this sentiment at times on our campus. On their way to school, a smiling effervescent, joy-giving Mrs. Joy Groves greets them: “Good morning, how are you?” Disinterested student, doesn’t look up, no eye contact: “I’m here.” Because adolescents can sometimes equate struggle with unhappiness they may not yet be aware that when they arrived here they were likely unhappy, and now that they are here? Well, they may still be unhappy. All people, but especially adolescents, tend to become oblivious to the fact that “here” is not what controls us—we control our own level of contentment in all settings. It is not about being “here.” Or there. Or anywhere. I have developed a certain mantra for life: “Grow where you are planted.” Life takes us many places and we can easily fall into the trap of spending our whole lives waiting or hoping or wishing to be elsewhere, thinking that the problem is “here.” So I tell students and faculty and staff, you are already on your way to becoming who you need to be, so grow where you are planted. And right now you are planted here, so grow here, start becoming who you need to be right here. So, HERE we are, HERE at this place, at Oak Hill Academy, in Mouth of Wilson, Virginia. HERE we embrace a certain kinship with Samuel from the Old Testament, who answered, “ Here I am, Lord .” Like Martin Luther on the cusp of history some 500 years ago, “ May God help me, here I stand .”

What and where is this HERE that is Oak Hill Academy? HERE is where lives are changed every day. HERE is where we live with and among 150 teenagers. HERE is where we roll up our sleeves and get to work and go to church and study and learn and eventually

turn a tassel. HERE we are The Turning Point. HERE at the little school in the mountains of southwestern Virginia, HERE we’ve been turning kids around since 1878. So, feel free to ask me, or ask any number of our faculty and staff, ask us: “How are you today?” I doubt you will receive a disengaged “I’m here.” Instead, know that we are indeed right here on “The Hill.” Of course some days HERE is not an easy place to be and we need your help. And some days HERE is akin to being in a foxhole and we need your prayers. And some days HERE is the most rewarding place one can ever imagine. Regardless of the day, make no mistake about it: HERE we are, Lord, and HERE we stand. At Oak Hill Academy, for 139 Years, we’re right HERE.

Follow Dr. Groves on Twitter @DrGrovesOHA.