Author Jeannette Walls urges local students to share their stories

Nov. 9—BLUEFIELD — An author who grew up knowing poverty and homelessness but later found success shared her story Wednesday with young people and urged them to think about telling their own stories even if they have to look into some dark places.

Jeannette Walls, author of the bestselling biography "The Glass Castle," visited Bluefield High School where she told area high school students about her life and how they can share the stories of their own lives.

Walls was born in Phoenix, Ariz. and spent years moving around the Southwest with her family, often not staying anywhere very long due to her father Rex Walls's alcoholism. The family moved to his hometown, Welch, in 1970. She later moved to New York City where she started a journalism career. "The Glass Castle" tells the story of her family's travels and her childhood. The book later became the basis of a movie by the same name.

The visit came about after Shawn Williams, who teaches theater and English at Bluefield High School, met Walls and told her how she uses "The Glass Castle" in her classes. An invitation to visit was soon accepted.

Walls remembered when coming to the City of Bluefield was a big deal for her.

"Being here is kind of magical," she said. "When I was living in Welch, W.Va., Bluefield was always the big city you went to where you were kind of fancy. It's a little bit like a homecoming for me. At the same time, it's more beautiful than a homecoming because I feel that so many people here know my story and accept me; so it's no longer like I'm going to this big scary city. I'm being surrounded by love. The place where I grew up, where I always felt a little bit like an outcast, like the person who thought if people knew the truth about me they wouldn't love me. The fact that they do know these things and they appreciate that story and feel closer to me because of it is just magical. "

Walls turned and looked at board displaying student art inspired by "The Glass Castle."

"Back here are a bunch of drawings and paintings students here have done based on my story, and their insights and compassion just blow me away," she said. "This is not only kind of full circle, it is healing for me."

During her address to the students, Walls urged them to share their stories.

"My main goal is to help kids understand that we all have a story," she said. "If the people who listen to my talk leave thinking about me, then I haven't done my job. What I want people to do is to leave thinking about their own stories. We all have a story, and sometimes I think we are our own toughest critic and we think nobody is going to get this. We live in isolation thinking that what we're going through is shameful, but once you come to terms with your story, you realize that is your source of great strength. That is your beauty. Whether you took the high road or the low road, it's who you are and you not only accept it, you embrace it."

When somebody decides to share the story of their life, they have to look at unhappy times as well as the good times.

"Don't be afraid to shine your light in those dark corners," Walls advised. "It is in the darkness that we find the diamonds, and sometimes it's scary to go there. Sometimes you're 'Oh no, nobody's going to get this.' and in my experience, people not only understand, they understand better than you do because they have perspective on it and they can help you see yourself more clearly."

After addressing the students, Walls had breakout sessions in which she spoke to them about writing. She recalled how Williams asked to visit the school and talk with her students.

"And these passionate, compassionate teachers are such life changers," Walls said. "How do you say no to that? Of course you come! She opens mind and opens hearts, and we're both on the same mission. And that is storytelling, because I believe in the power of storytelling. "

"Compassion comes through empathy, and once you hear people's stories you say 'Oh, they're not so strange after all,'" Walls continued. "We have a lot in common, and that's how we heal our wounds, by finding out just how much we do have in common."

Phyllis Owens, a teacher who had Walls in her Welch High School class, attended Wednesday's event.

"I taught Jeannette when she was in the ninth grade," Owens recalled. "And during her 10th and 11th grade, we stayed in touch and she came to my room most days or just to walked in and visited. Jeannette was a writer when she came to me. I knew that she was a writer and encouraged her; but as far as being the one who taught her to write, I can't take that as an accomplishment, but I encouraged her. And I think that encouragement must have stuck with her because she mentions it occasionally."

Owens described Walls as a brilliant student.

"Oh, I'm very, very proud of her but you know, beyond that, what I appreciate the most about her is she's not trying to hoard that spark that she has," Owens said. "She's traveling like she did here today to Bluefield High School and she tries to pass that spark on to other students. I think that's one of the most special things that she has accomplished, that desire to pass along that spark."

— Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com

Contact Greg Jordan at gjordan@bdtonline.com