Country's Joe Nichols scores an 'A' from one S.C. school for responding to students

May 21, 10:01 PMNashville Country Music ExaminerLisa L. Rollins

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Joe Nichols, teacher Sonja Boyles and Director Tim Mullis.

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For a full year and then some, one South Carolina-based teacher and her students embarked on a letter-writing campaign to country artist Joe Nichols, and finally, it paid off.

Specifically, students at John T. Simpson Academy, under the math tutelage  of Sonya Boyles, adopted one of Nichols' past hits, "The Impossible," as the theme for the learners' STARS (Students Taking Active Responsibility) class.

The song choice was one that teacher Boyles hoped would resonate with the students by reinforcing that nothing is impossible. Subsequently, in a move to further demonstrate said lesson, the classroom's students penned many a letter to the Broadway-bound Nichols, with the hope he would visit their school in Easley, S.C.

Earlier this week, Nichols responded by making a detour to Easley while en route to a performance in Asheville, N.C. He telephoned the teacher the night before to organize the impromptu performance for Monday, May 18.

Per the alternative school's Web site, Nichols arrived at about 1 p.m. and graciously donated 90 minutes of his time to Simpson students by performing his songs, signing autographs and taking pictures with students and staff members.

"These kids find themselves in a situation not of their making," Nichols said. "I think it's great that their teacher is trying to teach them that nothing is impossible, and that you should never give up. And she didn't with me.

"Heck," he continued, "I felt like if I didn't get over to the school and do this performance for the kids, she'd put it on my permanent record! It was a trip we were happy to make and I applaud Sonya and her students for  their hard work."

During the campus visit, Nichols sang his newly released single, “Believers,” which recently cracked the Top 30, as well as the inspirational “The Impossible.” He also talked with students about how important it is to always believe in one's self, to never give up hope and to continue to follow one's dreams. Then, speaking from personal experience, he shared some of the challenges he faced as memories of the time he spent in an alternative school as a teen.

Writer's take on the news: This scribe moves Nichols to the front of the class for taking time to give back and make a difference for others.
 

For more info:  Official Joe Nichols Web site. To view Nichols performing "The Impossible," simply view below.

Music video for "The Impossible" by Joe Nichols.