"We Change Lives"

South Hills Changes Lives

When you walk through the front door at South Hills , you will see this plaque "We Change Lives" on the front desk. Changing students' lives is something South Hills has been doing for over forty years. Ask anyone who has graduated or attended classes.

The most important sound we hear is our name. The staff and teachers call students by their first name as they meet them in the hallways or in class. The classes are small, so students get one-on-one instruction. The school provides a hands-on environment where students perform the kind of work like they would in a work environment. Beautiful art creations by graphic art students line both sides of the hallways from the lobby to the classrooms.

Why am I so excited to share all of this with you? I am a student in the Administrative Professional (AP) program at South Hills. I have experienced the hands-on teaching and have learned how to use Microsoft Word and give presentations in PowerPoint. One of the reasons I love South Hills so much is because the teachers put so much effort to help each of us individually to be the best students we can be. They listen to our concerns. They truly care about each and every one of us.




Please listen to the inspiring video by Mr. Mike Gates.

TMJ is Painful!

TJM Pain

When I have a good result from physical therapy, I like to share it with my friends. You may ask why? My testimony may inspire you to take that first step to get physical therapy or share how physical therapy helped you.

Yesterday, I returned to Atlas Therapy for another round of TMJ therapy and felt like a new person after the session. Smiling was pain-free.

If you have TMJ, you know the excruciating pain it can create in your ears and throughout your face and jaws. Biting into an apple or eating something with less effort (applesauce) can make the pleasure of eating excruciating. Even smiling can agitate your facial muscles when you have TMJ.

For many years, I have suffered from different levels of TMJ. When I was in my 20’s, I had two molars removed in my lower right jaw. Over the years, the teeth above the missing molars had to be shortened and crowned because they extended and pushed into the gum below. I tried to wear a partial plate to replace the missing teeth, but it never seemed to fit, so I gave up trying to wear it. An uneven bite helped me develop TMJ over the years.

Five years ago, my dentist gave me a prescription to visit Atlas Therapy for physical therapy for my TMJ. My first round of sessions lasted about two months of going two times a week.  In early 2015, I returned to go through second round of therapy. Yesterday, I returned for my first visit of a third round of therapy. After the first visit, I felt tremendous relief from the ache in my jaws. It was easier to smile.

Causes of TMJ

An injury or dislocated jaw 

Teeth or jaws that aren’t lined up right

Grinding your teeth

Arthritis, which can damage the cartilage in the joint

These exercises are recommended to help with TMJ pain. Give the video a moment. The exercises go through slow motion to show you how they work.

"Knees"

Cypress tree with knees 

Yes, "Knees", but not our knees.  Cypress trees have knees that help the trees breathe when heavy rains saturate the ground.

Cypress trees can be found in the Congaree National Park in  Hopkins, SC. I have visited the park three times and have enjoyed every visit. Boardwalks rise above the swamp areas, so your feet never get wet, unless you choose to leave the boardwalk and brave it on your own. It is the South and poisonous snakes are there.

Besides the "knees", the park is noted for its "canopy" above the trees. The "knees" picture on the right was taken when I visited in early March 2017. The picture below shows the canopy when the leaves are in full color at a later time. When the canopy is fully developed, you can hear the different sounds of birds and other critters high in the trees. The other two times I visited the park, the canopy was chirping with songs. It was like listening to a symphony above the trees.

Symphony from the canopy

 Admittance to the park is free. If you ever have the chance to visit it, I highly recommend it.

What Can Ducks Teach Us?

Young ducks crossing a street

On my way to an 8 o'clock class recently, this young team of ducks crossed over three lanes of traffic to get to the other side. Thank goodness, they made it safely across the street.

On a sadder note, one early Saturday morning, I was driving down a street in town and came upon a male duck who was circling his mate who had been hit by a car and lay in the street. He nudged her with his bill, but she didn't stir. Finally, the police arrived and carried her off the street to the sidewalk. The male duck followed and circled the box she was put into. It was heartbreaking to watch.


Ducks are determined, loyal, and work in teams. They can teach us many things about life.

Five things ducks can teach us.

Buttercup gets a new foot in this video: