Graduating student finds calling in sociology and community advocacy
“I have been able to study such vast areas of research, from Appalachian sociology to health and illness to masculinity to global change and colonialism,” Samm Hall says. “I feel invested in every single aspect of sociology, and I am profoundly motivated by what we can learn using sociology to change the world towards justice and equity.” Photo courtesy of Samm Hall
For Samm Hall, growing up in the small Appalachian city of Chillicothe, Ohio, meant facing limited educational paths and career opportunities. Wanting to help others, she initially chose to study nursing. During her degree, however, she discovered sociology and was struck by how deeply it resonated with her core values and interests.
“Sociology was a prerequisite for nursing school, so I went into the course expecting it to be a boring gateway to my future as a nurse,” she says. “What I found instead was a discipline that I had essentially been searching for all of my life. Sociology validated the things that I cared about … (and) gave me a language and vocabulary to research and talk about those things.”
This epiphany led her to pursue a sociology degree through the T. Denny Sanford School of Social and Family Dynamics via ASU Online, but not without some setbacks along the way. Beginning her college journey in 2013, Hall faced health-related challenges and paused her education for a few years. Upon returning, she needed to pause again due to COVID-19.
Hall came back to school one last time, and her persistence paid off. Now she is the first in her family to graduate with a bachelor’s degree — a success that has been not only transformative for her family but provided a powerful way for Hall to explore and discover the areas of study that resonate with her.
“I have been able to study such vast areas of research, from Appalachian sociology to health and illness to masculinity to global change and colonialism,” she says. “I feel invested in every single aspect of sociology, and I am profoundly motivated by what we can learn using sociology to change the world towards justice and equity.”
Already, Hall is beginning to put that passion into action. She recently joined a health care organization dedicated to LGBTQ+ advocacy and serving underrepresented communities. In her patient services role, Hall supports individuals getting treatment for illness, with the goal of building experience toward a career in patient advocacy and public policy. Looking ahead, Hall plans to continue this position while pursuing her master’s degree in sociology from ASU Online.
Hall’s journey, from rural Ohio to ASU graduation, shows the strength she has built through her own challenges and her drive to help others move forward.
Question: Why did you choose ASU?
Answer: I chose ASU because it has the reputation of being a school of opportunity for nontraditional students with busy lives and diverse backgrounds. The availability of the sociology program was also a huge plus and is ultimately what drove me to finish my degree with ASU, and particularly that the program is a Bachelor of Science as opposed to a Bachelor of Arts. I really appreciate when sociology is validated as a science and as a discipline.
Q: What’s something you learned while at ASU — in the classroom or otherwise — that surprised you or changed your perspective?
A: Hard work isn’t always recognized the way that it should be, and we have to validate our successes internally. It is up to each of us to celebrate and validate our successes ourselves. Be proud, be loud about your accomplishments and take nothing sitting down.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’d give to those still in school?
A: Be persistent. More than ever in the society and economy that we live in, people are struggling to make ends meet and have to prioritize a million other things before they can even begin to think about starting or returning to college.
I used to look at my pauses as failures, but I have since learned to appreciate them for what they were: necessary opportunities for me to grow and focus on what had to matter most at that time. I would not be the person or student that I am today without taking that time out for other aspects of my life. You are not a failure, no matter how many pauses you take or how long your degree takes you to complete. Persistence and courage in the face of adversity is what creates success, not time.
Q: What are your plans after graduation?
A: After graduation in December, I will move straight into my master’s program at ASU. Professionally, I very recently started a job working for a health care organization that almost exclusively serves the LGBTQ+ community, low-income and unhoused individuals, and people living with HIV. I am currently in a patient services position but will be eligible within the year to transition to a position focusing more on patient advocacy and policy.
One of the things that I love about my organization is that every single person involved with the organization has the opportunity to make a significant difference every single day for so many underserved people. Being a queer woman makes participating in the work that we do so much more meaningful and special for me. It is incredibly rewarding, and I intend to stay with this organization for as long as I can, transitioning to different roles that I become qualified for through my education and achievements at ASU.
Q: If someone gave you $40 million to solve one problem on our planet, what would you tackle?
A: I would utilize $40 million to provide access to life-saving HIV medications to everyone around the globe. HIV is still the deadliest infectious disease in developing nations and is still a major health issue even in developed nations. One of the most rewarding aspects of my job is seeing people with HIV being able to access the medications that we have now that make their viral load undetectable and their HIV nontransmissible.
Just as important is the access people at risk of HIV have to preventative medications that we now have that prevent HIV altogether. However, one of the most heartbreaking aspects of my job is seeing how disparities and inequities make receiving these medications so incredibly difficult for people. Globally, the health disparities experienced by developing nations is so unnecessary and cruel, and we could absolutely change the lives and health of millions upon millions of people by providing free access to these medications.
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