'Southern 2021

I
am a rebellious person. I believe
it is in my DNA, but it didn’t hurt
that I was a preacher’s kid; we are
known for our rebellion. Almost
every good decision I have made in my life has
been walking backwards through the open door.
When thinking about where to attend college,
I swore I would not go to BSC. Why? Because
everyone expected me to, like the rest of my
family! Both of my parents attended, as did my
uncle, aunt, and great-uncle.
But I came to campus as a youth
representative to the United Methodist
Conference. One night I sat by the old fountain,
brightly lit on the beautiful campus, and
knew that I would come to BSC.
Another choice I made reluctantly
was to become a teacher. I come from
a family of teachers – my mother, my
sister, both maternal grandparents, aunts,
uncles. Everyone expected me to study
to become a teacher. Instead, I chose an
interdisciplinary major in biology and
psychology.
One of my first classes was Biology 101
with Dr. Paul Bailey. He was so passionate
and knowledgeable about the information
he taught! I fell in love with learning,
developing a curiosity within me that I
never knew existed.
Dr. Jeanette Runquist was another giant
in my studies. She challenged my mind
more than I had ever experienced. The
academic content in her classes, Anatomy &
Physiology and Embryology, was challenging,
but Dr. Runquist made it all make sense.
At BSC, I learned so much academically. I
took religion classes with Dr. Robert Wingard,
history classes with Dr. Henry Randall,
education classes with Dr. Bob Whetstone,
and art classes with Dr. Bob Shelton. These
professors didn’t just teach me about their
academic content. They taught me that I was
capable of doing hard things. Looking back,
I am unsure that I had a natural inclination
to understand the sciences. Still, because I
connected with the faculty at BSC, they ignited
a desire to learn that I had not yet experienced.
It is difficult to say whether I learned more
through the academic or social side of college
at BSC. Preachers move from place to place, in
my case all across North Alabama. My family
never lived anywhere for more than four years.
As a result, I never quite found my tribe in high
school. Oh, I tried and did everything I could to
fit in with my peers. My father recounts when
he saw me as a tall, skinny 15-year-old, walking
with my friends at a football game, leaning
forward, my shoulders hunched, so I would not
be taller than the other girls. Always the new
girl. But at BSC, I found real friends who, after
almost 40 years, have proven to be life-long
friends, like Maria Alexander ’86, Kathy
Leos ’85, Judy Pittman ’87, and Leigh Ann
Sisson ’87. Through these friends, I learned
about fierce love and loyalty. I also met my
husband, Brad Spencer ’86, while on the
Hilltop, and three of our children, Graham
’16, Liza ’16, and Isa ’24 have attended BSC.
To say that my experience at BSC changed
my life would be an understatement. Because
of the faculty, staff, and peers at BSC, I
became a life-long learner and recognized
the importance of teachers in the lives of
their students. Not long after I graduated
from BSC, I finally followed my call to be an
educator. The amazing thing is that when
I decided to go into education, I pointed
to Dr. Wingard, Dr. Randall, Dr. Runquist,
and others as my guides. Because of the
In 2008, I returned to the Hilltop, this time to be a
education. I am honored to be a part of the mission of
people for lives of significance.
–Dr, Amelia Gunn Spenceer ’21
30 / ’southern