Contributed
When it comes to Halle Jordan Stanley, the apple does not fall far from the tree. Halle is the 16 year old daughter of the late Mr. Joseph Stanley, of All Tied Up Clothing Store in downtown Whiteville, and Dr. Jennifer Smith, an International Education Leader and Superintendent, from Clarkton.
At the young age of 16, Halle has already experienced a life that most people can only dream about.
Due to her mother’s career internationally, she has gained the opportunity to live abroad and attend private international schools in four different countries and continents: Seoul, South Korea; Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Africa, and Germany.
Halle has always been quite independent and strong- willed according to her parents, especially her father, Joseph, as he often spoke of his daughter to customers in his store. Photos of her surrounding the walls of his store depicted how proud he was of her accomplishments at such a young age. “She’s going to be the first female president. She gets it from her Daddy,” he would often jokingly state to his customers.
At the young age of 13, while still in the 8th grade and living with her mom in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates, Halle informed her mother that she wanted to go to high school in Europe. Why Europe? Because she spent a summer vacation in Paris, France and fell in love with the culture and continent.
Thus, at the young age of 13, Halle made the decision to begin the rigorous process to apply at two international private high schools in Europe: Notre Dame International High School in Paris and Black Forest Academy in Germany. She was accepted at both schools as a high school student.
With two offers on the table, she decided to attend high school at Black Forest Academy, a private international boarding school in Germany.
“It was extremely difficult to let her go at such a young age,” states Halle’s mother, Dr. Jennifer Smith. “We had no family in Europe, and the concept of living apart from my daughter while she was just beginning her teen-age years was heartbreaking.
However, I’ve always held her to extremely high standards and consistently instilled within her that she could be and accomplish anything that her heart desired. With this decision, I had to simply trust her judgment and input regarding her future educational career, and do as I’ve always done as her mother…..continue to support her dreams. I knew that she had the academic knowledge and skills to compete globally and internationally due to the educational background that she had already experienced as a young student on the international scene. I was confident that she would be successful.”
Now, in grade 11, starting her third year as a student at Black Forest Academy, Halle continues to thrive as a young educator internationally. She is an avid member of the soccer team, plays the guitar, and most importantly…..she is in an educational setting in which she is competing with top students from all over the word.
Black Forest Academy draws top students from all over the world from at least 50 different countries. While students are expected to perform well academically, they are also held to the high standards of serving as missionaries throughout the world in third-world countries of need, as this is a requirement throughout their high school years. Black Forest Academy also offers their high school students a culture of travel experiences throughout Europe, as trips are often made to France, Switzerland, and other nearby countries as a part of their educational exposure and curriculum.
While spending time in Bladen County this summer, she had the opportunity to visit Duke University in Durham. “My university years are fast approaching,” according to Halle, and I want to select a university which meets my academic needs. Because my mom will now be working in China, I also plan to visit the Duke University campus in China.” Oxford University in England is also on the bucket list of universities of interest.
“I’m really grateful for my educational experiences. I’ve always had an extremely large support system starting with my parents, grandmother in Bladen County (Shirley Autry), aunts that live in Raleigh, and my extended family in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates” said Halle. Whatever the future holds, I will always be a product of Bladen and Columbus County, and that makes me proud.”
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