Meet Ameila Hall A’10
Amelia graduated from Salem Academy in 2010 and attended the University of North Carolina at Asheville where she obtained a B.A. in psychology and attended the University of North Carolina at Charlotte graduating with a master’s degree in social work. Amelia started her social work career as a mental health therapist but quickly realized that as a member of the disability community, her true passion was supporting the disability population. This led to work as a Rehabilitation Counselor for the State of North Carolina where she assisted people with disabilities in obtaining and maintaining competitive, gainful employment. Currently, Amelia works as a Senior Physical Accessibility Specialist for Truist Bank. In this role, she acts as a subject matter expert on accessibility across the bank to ensure all products and services are accessible to individuals with disabilities. 

How did you and your family decide that Salem Academy was right for you?
When I was in high school, I attended a creative writing camp at the SC Governor’s School for the Arts. During my sophomore year of high school, I applied to attend the SC Governor’s School of the Arts for my final two years of high school with a concentration in creative writing. While I was not selected to attend the SC Governor’s School, I had it in my head that I was going away to school at 16, and I wanted to make that happen. My family and I then toured boarding schools in the Southeast, and Salem Academy won by a landslide due to its rigorous academics, small class sizes, and strong sense of community. 

What’s one thing about Salem Academy that you would like everyone to know?
The bonds you forge with your Salem sisters have the ability to last a lifetime. I met my best friend at Salem Academy in 2009 when I was a junior, and 15 years later, she is still one of the most important people in my life. 

How does the Academy’s STEAM focus prepare students for college and careers?
Salem’s focus on not only the arts but also the sciences provided me with a well-rounded education that I couldn’t have gotten anywhere else. 

What’s your favorite memory of Salem Academy outside the classroom?
The concept of “Jan Term,” by far. During my senior year at Salem, I spent Jan Term traveling to Peru with a group of Salem sisters. I remember the magnificence of touring Machu Picchu and how magical it was to be able to experience one of the seven wonders of the world. 

How did Salem Academy prepare you for college?
In short, Salem Academy taught me how to study. When I first got to Salem, the academic rigor was overwhelming and took time to adjust to. However, I quickly realized that I learned best by making notecards for all the important information I needed to know. Throughout college and even graduate school, notecards were my go-to for quizzes, tests, papers, and even mapping out my graduate school thesis. 

What would be your recommendation to a student who is considering studying at Salem Academy, but can’t decide if she wants to attend?
Visit Salem Academy. Take a tour. Talk to current students and professors. Salem Academy holds a special kind of energy, one that can only be experienced firsthand and in person. 

Is there anything else you want to share about your experience at Salem Academy?
If you allow it to, it can completely change your life for the better. I am who I am because of the values Salem instilled in me: independence, determination, creativity, and a strong sense of community.