Blackman librarian creates guest speaker series to show students success is achievable

It’s an introduction to endless possibilities.

It’s also about the possibility that even as a high school student, in Murfreesboro, ordinary people can go on to accomplish the extraordinary.

That is the premise of an ongoing series at Blackman High School. Started by librarian Brian Seadorf, the original speaker series has evolved into “A conversion with…”

He has hosted six guests each of the past three school years including this year.

“I think of students,” Seadorf explained, “and try to have a couple of different themes for all six.”

This season began with Holly Thompson, an anchor from Channel 4 in Nashville, who talked about media. MTSU men’s basketball coach, Kermit Davis, came in October and then Nashville entrepreneur Marcela Gomez came in November “and there’s about 62 things she does,” joked Seadorf.

This year’s series will conclude Friday, March 24, with Peter Cooper, a writer and historian at the Country Music Hall of Fame.

Cooper previously worked as a longtime country music critic, feature writer and columnist for The Tennessean as well as a Grammy-nominated record producer for his work on the tribute album “I Love: Tom T. Hall’s Songs of Fox Hollow.”

He played bass with Todd Snider on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Show with David Letterman. And, more recently, has toured throughout North America and Europe with his frequent collaborators Eric Brace and Thomm Jutz.

In addition, Cooper lectures about country music history at Vanderbilt University’s Blair School of Music.

“It’s important for students to hear … how someone got to where they are,” Seadorf said. “And any life lessons they learned along the way.”

He added, “How in the world did Shane McFarland end up being the mayor of Murfreesboro? How did that happen? He has a story and we all have ups and downs, and I would ask them to tell their story.”

McFarland was one of the first guests Seadorf invited to Blackman.

Other guests have included actor Pete Pitts and musician Mike Hicks.

Pitts is best known for his work on The Walking Dead and Stranger Things, as well as Captain America: Civil War, while Hicks previously played with Keb Mo and currently tours with Rascal Flatts.

Pitts shared his story of addiction, and ultimately, his redemption in Hollywood.

“Here’s a guy who hit rock bottom,” Seadorf said, “and he pulled himself back up.”

Blackman High School Principal Leisa Justus said, “Brian is intentional about including diverse speakers from diverse backgrounds. He then works with teachers to invite students to the series who can gain the most from the experience of listening.

“A speaker that stands out to me is a very hip, young doctor who came from meager beginnings. He spoke passionately about rising above those beginnings while, at the same time, embracing and valuing them. Our students were listening. Hearing success stories that come in all flavors is so important. I want our students to know that success can be found in a lot of places and can come in many shapes (and) forms — and that success is achievable to each and every one of them.”

The series originally began after Seadorf became one of Blackman’s sponsors for the National Honor Society.

Guests would talk for 20 minutes and then meet with about 70 members of the honor society. In its second year, guests began taking part in a 30-minute interview with Seadorf, and more importantly, the audience included students from the Collegiate Academy.

Seadorf’s ultimate goal is to inspire students.

“Maybe they see themselves in this person,” he concluded. “I can do this.”