Arthur Gilliam (2025)

08/01/2025

You don’t want to miss this FREE event! Join us as we celebrate Black History Month with a special event honoring the achievements, resilience, and beauty of the African Diaspora.

29/09/2024

God wastes nothing. Every victory, every defeat, every high & every low—it’s all working for you. Nothing in this season will be wasted.

21/08/2024

HUGE “Thank You!” to Mrs. Pearson and the entire Hamlet Middle School faculty and staff for inviting me to speak on building healthy relationships with students. They were incredible—eager to learn and very receptive. I can’t wait to come back. Even though I was in Ram territory, I am 🚀🧡🖤😂

30/07/2024

PARENTS/GUARDIANS:

As we head back to school, please teach your children the power of a first impression. Many times, a first impression is a lasting impression. Please teach them how to introduce themselves to others. For example, if someone says to them, "Hey, how are you?" teach them to respond and return the gesture (i.e., "I'm good. How are you? My name is _______").

This will go a LONG way. I'm noticing that many students walk the halls with headphones to avoid conversation and interaction. This is fine until they need something and have to speak for themselves, and they don't know how. Giving students the power to speak for themselves will give them the ability to advocate for themselves.

Because they left a good first impression and introduced themselves, they have built a small rapport with said person. Now, when they need something, the need is built off of the former interaction, a good first impression & established rapport. Social capital is everything.

I know this doesn't account for students with social anxieties. So, don't take this as a one-size-fits-all approach. Please hear this as a life skill that will take your child extremely far. I may return and talk about the next step of teaching students how to network.

Signed,

A teacher that cares🖤

25/07/2024

IF YOU’RE HEADED OFF TO COLLEGE IN THE FALL. HERE IS MY PERSONAL ADVISE. Take what you want & discard what you don’t.

1. Stay Focused

2. Remember why you're at College (to get that degree & experience). Everything else is secondary.

3. Maintain a prayer life. If you don't have one... Get One! Jesus is gonna be your ONLY friend some days.

4. Ladies: Don't fall for the 1st guy that smiles in your face (there will be plenty)😒. Most only want 1 thing. Be smart.

5. Join a Campus Ministry or a Local Church that's passionate about discipleship. Not every "campus ministry" is ministry-centered.

6. Remember what you've been taught at home.
7. Try not to call your parents every time you get in trouble. This is a good time to learn to make it on your own. It'll be hard, but life is hard. It's time to do it!

8. Try not to buy your textbooks from the College Bookstore; it's a SET UP (Google, Amazon, eBay, etc). Refer to #9.

9. College is a big business. You're a customer. You're paying to go. (Don't let them treat you any differently)

10. Those professors are getting paid whether you show up or not... SHOW UP!

11. Get a "class buddy" in EVERY class. (Get their phone number and contact info). If you miss a class, you'll need them (thank me later).

12. Get in good with your advisors/professors. You'll need them. (i.e., recommendations/referrals/good words)

13. Your academic catalog is your BIBLE! (Don't take any unnecessary classes).

14. If your advisor is slack, lazy or trifling, refer to #9

15. Stay on top of Financial Aid; know all their faces and names. (Refer back to #9)

16. Not all of you are gonna make it at a "big university." Go home, plan and regroup.

17. Don't be ashamed if you have to come home and go to community college. Those students don’t have student loans!

18. There's NOTHING wrong with Community College. Refer to #17.

19. Be praying and thinking about your major NOW. Listen, the way this economy is set up, plan for a degree that will pay. If your passion doesn't pay, you'll need to get a JOB! (Ask me how I know...hmph!)

20. Read the FINE PRINT on these LOANS. Know what subsidized & UN-subsidized means. Refer to #9.

21. If your parents are paying for your college, know that you're Blessed. With that in mind, don't waste their money or YOUR time.

22. The Freshman 15 is real. For me it was 50😳. Find a workout buddy.

23. Watch your meal plan; it's not always necessary if you aren't eating that much. It's cheaper to buy groceries. Refer to #9.

24. Don't room with your friend. A lot of good friendships have died this way.

25. Try to join a club, SGA or something. (Colleges tend to employ students who are active on their campuses). This is a good way to become employed after school and get your Master's paid for by the University.

26. Embrace the experience.

27. College is different. It really is "A Different World". Lose your small mindset. Become friends with other cultures/nationalities/races. Broaden your horizon.

28. If you're blessed to get a refund check... don't "CARRY ON" with that money! Get what you need & save the rest. You're going to have to pay that back!

29. Thursday is Party Night. Govern yourself accordingly.

30. If you ARE a party-er, NEVER go alone (idc if it's a dorm, house or club). Male or Female: NEVER go alone!

31. If you Party... if you put your drink down or leave it, DO NOT pick it back up... it's dead & as far as you know, tainted. Trust me on this.

32. Be discerning. Everybody there isn't for you. Some people were sent to distract you from purpose. Refer to #2 & #3.

33. Try to serve someone or somewhere. (I came home and served my local church because I was close to home. It kept me grounded.)

34. Remember why you're there every day. Refer to #2.

35. If you want to get your Master's, go as soon as graduation is over. Don't take a break, don't stop... GO! (Ask me how I know.)

36. If you don't have the parental or family support at home, these four years are going to be the time God stretches your Faith and your Strength. TRUST HIM! He will get you THROUGH. (Ask me how I know!)

37. College is what you make it. Make it the best experience of your life.

29/06/2024

We have to instill in this next generation that there is more to life than just “chasing a bag.” I’m scared that we are watching a generation “chase a bag” with no desire to “leave an impact.” I watched my mom go to the nursing home on Saturdays to do elders’ hair with no compensation and no fanfare. Impact. I watched my village give their blood, sweat, and tears to make sure they left their community better than they found it. Impact. Again, there’s nothing wrong with “getting a bag,” but that can’t be the totality. And if we are going to embrace this “bag chasing” culture, we must at a minimum instill a level of uncompromising integrity while doing it: professionalism, being astute in business affairs, honesty, and high character. While I admire this “go get it” culture that’s rising, if it’s not connected and grounded in humility and a level of servanthood, we will breed a selfish and egotistic generation that’s not interested in the overall well-being of their community. We will have a lot of hustle and no impact.

24/06/2024

There are people praying for you privately & silently rooting you on. Be encouraged. Don’t give up. This is your sign.
KEEP GOING!

03/06/2024

🚨PARENTS, SCHOOL IS OUT!🚨

🗣️Popular books your teenagers can READ📚

21/04/2024

Your subliminal post, your petty reactions, your re-post of shady posts to justify your feelings, your desire to cuss them out & to see them receive their “karma” are all indicators that you are not ready.

It’s not about them. It was never about them. It was about your character. If you can’t handle them on this level, then you really aren’t ready to handle the new “them” on “that” level. These “tests” are your indicators. You keep taking it personal. This season is about keeping your hands clean & your heart/motives pure.

It’s not about them. It’s about YOU and your character. You will keep repeating this same course until you pass. 🚀🙏🏿💪🏿

27/02/2024

Most of the battles we win, will be won in private. There won’t be any fanfare. No one will pat you on the back. The applause will be deafening. That doesn’t mean you didn’t win. No one celebrates the foundation of a thing. They only appreciate the height. You have to be ok with winning in private. Truth is, the private victories are what build your foundation. Don’t abandon your foundation, because people are applauding “their” skyscraper. You keep building. You don’t want to be a public success & a private failure. Keep building your foundation. Your roots must run deep, in order for your success to be long-lasting. Run your race. Keep building, brick by brick. The private victories are preparation. You’ve got this. 🧱🧱🧱

22/02/2024

Had another amazing opportunity to present to educators today. I never take these moments for granted. Always grateful for the opportunity to impact other educators. Thank you Richmond County Schools for the opportunity. 💪🏿🙏🏿🚀

19/02/2024

🖤

Arthur Gilliam