Celia Jones, a transfer from Liberia, had mixed emotions about leaving the west African country to come to school in the states. She missed her family and friends, but it was not until she came to America that she became a Christian, which she now values more than anything else in her life. Celia, whose father works for Firestone Plantations Company, attended a plantation school for eight years before transfering to the capital of Liberia, for her ninth and tenth grade years. However, she had to take an hour-long bus ride to and from school each day. Not only was this unpleasant because of the tropical heat, but the tensions between black and white students were extremely high. These were two of the main reasons CeJia began to look for a school in the States. Celia's mother was raised in Batesville, Arkansas, where she had often heard of Harding Academy; however, she thought it was an all-boys' school. When the Jones discovered that it was not, they became interested. It was this interest that led Celia to enroll at the Academy in August of 1978, along with her brother Russell. Celia has learned many things since she came to the Academy. "People were really friendly at the mixer [a party at the beginning of school sponsored by the Student AssociationJ but after school started, and people settled into their routines, it was hard to break into the established groups, she said. "But I have made some friendships which mean a great deal to me." " 1. WAITING for a friend , Celia lones stands in tile library. 2. OBSERVING a classmate, Scott Berry is distracted from the lecture. 3. ENJOYING a mid-morning break, Becki Bryant and Anthony TaUbear clown between classes. 4. BASKINC in a warm autumn afternoon SUlI , Bliss frwill poses for a photograpller. S. SUB-DEB SPIRIT AWARD winner Tim Walker waits in tlte auditorium before a meeting,
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