“Life isn’t about finding yourself. Life is about creating yourself.” — George Bernard Shaw

By Madelyn Outland

Robert Sams, Bob, Doc Sams, these are the names most people know Dr. Sams as, but to me, he is just Papa. Dr. Sams has always had an impact on my life. He has always pushed me to do my best, told me life lessons, taught me life skills, and much more.

Dr. Sams is known by many people around town and has helped most of them somehow and some way. Dr. Sams has been an optometrist for most of his life and people have been going to him for years. Dr. Sams has influenced and made connections with many people and many different places but he has influenced me the most.

He has taught me many things in life: how to build things, how to handle certain situations, and how to persevere. Dr. Sams always pushes me to do my best, especially in my grades. He asks what I am studying and asks me random questions about that certain subject to keep me on my toes. He makes me tell him what I learned that day in class in detail so that I remember it. When I was younger, my favorite thing to do was to read the newspaper with him. Reading the newspaper with him helped me develop my literacy skills. He has taught me about business and even helped me make my own stock account. He takes me to museums and Sycamore Shoals every year so I can learn about the history of our town and history of other subjects. He taught me how to build things by bringing me in his workshop to assist him with projects. We would have our lunch break and feast on his favorite cheese and crackers with a Nutty Buddy.

Dr. Sams inspires me because he created connections with people and places out of nothing but him. By putting himself out there, making smart decisions, and being friendly with everyone. He is such an intelligent being and the town deserves to know about him because he has been an inspiration to me, my family, and many others.

This story is part of a series of articles from Michael Grindstaff’s Language Arts Class at Elizabethton High School.

Students were asked to write about inspirational people in their lives. The Elizabethton Star is proud to share these with our readers.