As cars line Summerhill and students enter the gates of Texas High, a smiling face draws the attention of parents, students and teachers. It’s not only the man standing on the sidewalk that catches their eyes, but the giant sign he holds with uplifting messages that bring a smile to every face.

Terri Walthall uses these signs to be the light in the darkness for students. He works to support students through their struggles and to motivate them to keep going. Since 2020, Walthall has used his signs in front of schools to make a difference in students’ lives.

“‘Don’t Give Up’ is a national program started by a family in 2017 to help prevent youth suicide,” Walthall said. “Someone in my office brought a sign in one day, and I asked about it. I immediately bought into the program, and since I lived on the Arkansas side, I started holding the ‘Don’t Give Up’ sign in 2020. This past year, after retiring, I felt inspired to add a school, and Texas High became my choice. I try [to] hold a sign one morning per week.”

Ever since Walthall became involved in these heartwarming acts of kindness, he feels determined to give hope to students, even if it is through just one sign. 

“Although I’ve loved and served Jesus all of my days in the church, I realized that holding this sign weekly — through the hot and the cold, the wind and sometimes rain — might encourage even one student to keep going and not give up,” Walthall said.“Don’t end your life. Don’t quit school. Please keep going. The world need[s] your gifts.”

Walthall’s efforts prove to be successful, altering the lives of numerous students in the community through simple displays of kindness.

“Right after I started at Arkansas High, a student parked next to the building and walked over to me. She told me that ‘every week I wonder if you’ll be there, holding the sign to not give up,’” Walthall said. “That day, I decided that this was a small sacrifice [or] gift to save a life. Someone told me about one of their friends, who’d just commented that they wanted to just quit [and] give up. The next day, she drove by [while I was] holding the ‘Don’t give Up’ sign. She told her friend that maybe God had given her a sign.”

Walthall’s mission demonstrates how significant impact is possible without a lot of money. All he has is a sign and a smile, providing small moments of joy in strangers’ lives. 

“Sometimes when a student is walking by or a car turns in with a window down, I’ll tell them that they are ‘shining’. It brings a smile, and often people will shout back to me, ‘You’re shining,’” Walthall said. “I’ve discovered that something as simple as holding a sign with a positive message can make a difference. It doesn’t have to be complicated or cost a lot of money to see people and smile.”

While Walthall helps people all over, he still finds time to visit both Texas and Arkansas High. 

“Today, I’m the chaplain for my old insurance agency, and I serve as a coach to assist men with addiction,” Walthall said. “[When I go to a school] varies depending on my schedule and the weather. Usually, [it’s] Arkansas High on Tuesday or Wednesday and Texas High on Thursday or Friday.”

Walthall not only makes a difference with a sign, but also with prayer. He reaches out to every ear that listens and prays for schools, students and faculty.

“I pray for the school year on the first day of class on [Facebook] live and for the remainder of the year. I’m asking God to guard our schools against violence and to encourage the students, faculty and administration to not give up,” Walthall said. “I saw teachers’ faces at the end of COVID. There was so much discouragement. I’m there with my whole being, offering a positive message, a wave and a smile, hopefully shining the love of Jesus.”

He seeks to achieve one goal: to help motivate students to never give up and show them that there is light, even if all they see is the darkness.

“I want the students to know that although high school can be tough, it won’t always be this way,” Walthall said. “Don’t give up. Push through it. You shine. I see you. You matter. You’re worthy of love. Your mistakes don’t define you.”