by ANNE BAKER
News Editor

Jeannette E. Walls, author of the 2008 Summer Reading Book “The Glass Castle” said she never dreamed she would be speaking to incoming freshman at Appalachian State University.

Yet on Thursday, Walls shared the story of her past to students, faculty and members of the administration during fall Convocation.

“[My family] couldn’t afford the last ‘or’ of ‘poor,’” she said.

However, despite her family’s lack of money, Walls said she never doubted she would attend college—she had both a dream and a hope for her future, two things more important than wealth, she said.

Walls took that dream and moved to New York to attend Barnard College, and now is a New York Times bestselling author.

Walls said she hid her story from others for years, often wondering what her peers would think if they knew the true story of her upbringing.

“I was ashamed of who I was,” she said. “I was ashamed that I had an alcoholic father and a loopy mom and had to live in a house without indoor plumbing. So ashamed that when people asked about myself, I changed the subject.”

However, Walls said when she finally risked exposure by sharing her past, she realized there might be someone in the world who could find a degree of hope in her story.

“In sharing our stories, we learn about one another,” she said.

Walls said she was also ashamed of the scars she had on her body, which she acquired after catching on fire while trying to cook for herself when she was three years old.

“One day my husband said, ‘don’t ever be ashamed of your scars…smooth [skin] is boring; you’ve got texture, [and] texture is interesting,’” she said.

Walls said it is the texture that makes everyone unique and when people face their flaws, they can look for the opportunity in every challenge.

“Each of you have resources inside yourself that you don’t even know about,” she said to students.
Don’t be afraid to dig deep, find those resources, and then use them, she said.

After hearing Walls speak several students were inspired by the address.

Alice W. Smith, freshman English major said she read “The Glass Castle” and enjoyed hearing how Walls went from being so poor to doing so well in life.

Glenn S. Dion, sophomore communication major, said he was required to attend convocation for a public speaking class.

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