SALISBURY - With his years of experience running the Boys and Girls Club, one might expect it would be hard for a kid to impress Executive Director Jim Keenan.
But lately, Keenan's doing a lot of talking about one of the club's regular members: Salisbury teen Samantha Eaton.
"I'm so proud of her; I can't stop talking about her," Keenan said. "I feel like I won the lottery."
With big blue eyes, long blond hair and a winning smile, 15-year-old Samantha beams when asked about Keenan's pride in her.
"He calls me 'Honor Roll Eaton,'" she said laughing.
Samantha's parents, Angela Eaton and Jeffrey Sprague, are also at the top of Samantha's fan club, she said.
While it's not entirely uncommon for a teenager to turn their academic career around, Samantha has done it by immersing herself in the Boys and Girls Club. Keenan, who works tirelessly to recruit kids to the club, sees her as a shining example of the impact the club can have on a young life.
A Triton sophomore, Samantha admits not long ago academics weren't No. 1 on her hit parade. The honor roll student said that in the past, her grades weren't her first priority.
"When I first started coming to the club three years ago, I wasn't concerned with my homework," Samantha said. "I was more concerned with relaxing with my friends."
But after spending time at the club's Teen Center with a friend, Samantha had more and more interaction with the counselors there. They impressed upon her the importance of graduating from high school, something her past grades would hinder if she didn't work hard to raise them.
Thanks to a remarkably open mind for a teenager, the counselors' comments got through to her. Last year, she started spending more time in the club's Homework Room concentrating on school work. At first it wasn't easy - except for history, which is her favorite subject - yet she kept working hard at it. Even toward the end of last year when things started to slip a bit she never gave up, and the club staff members were there to encourage, support and help.
When Keenan asked Samantha if she'd like to be a counselor-in-training for last summer's Boys and Girls Club camp, she jumped at the chance. Acting as an assistant to the club's counselors taught her a lot, she said, and she liked the feeling of being a trusted member of the team. Others at the club saw her grow.
"She's really matured a lot," said Helen Richards, who staffs the club's front desk. "She's terrific."
Samantha has high praise for Richards as well; they're a mutual admiration society.
"Helen's my favorite person here. She's kind," Samantha said softly. "She's very, very kind."
When the school year began in September, Keenan made Samantha another offer. If she kept her grades up, she could have a job at the club for a couple of hours a day.
"I had to get at least C's in all my courses," Samantha said.
She rose to the challenge. Her grades began to improve, even in science and English, previously her academic bugaboos.
"We just got our grades at Triton," Samantha said. "I was amazed. I got A's and B's. I made the honor roll."
She even got an A in biology.
"It felt really good," she said.
Samantha likes that good feeling so much she wants to keep it.
"Samantha spends a lot of time in our Homework Room," said Katie Hughes, the club's education director. "She's the one who does the work. We're just here to help."
Kids have the atmosphere they need to get school work done in the Homework Room, Richards said. In addition, two Amesbury teachers visit to help kids tackle their assignments.
For Samantha, graduating from high school is now a given. She enjoys the art and culinary courses she's taking this year, which allow her flair for creativity to flourish. She thinks she'd like to study photography after she graduates, because college is now on her to-do list.
Keenan was glad to hear it, because he has another challenge for her.
"If she continues to do well in school and gets into college, an anonymous donor will pay for her college education," he said. "Whether it's Ivy League or community college. Whatever she wants."
