By: Nathan Anderson
Education has always been about more than earning a degree for David Turner. It has been about service, curiosity, and creating opportunities for others to grow.
After graduating from Hoover High School in 2018, Turner enrolled at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB) as a Presidential Scholar, pursuing undergraduate degrees in English and Philosophy. Like many students, his college experience was filled with late nights studying
in Sterne Library, balancing work and family obligations, and becoming a regular at some of his favorite Birmingham spots.
"My grandfather and grandmother have always been major sources of inspiration for me, especially as it pertains to my dedication toward education and service," Turner said.
His grandfather spent his career as a biology teacher and school administrator, while his grandmother worked as a nurse. Although both were retired by the time Turner knew them, their commitment to helping others never faded.
"My earliest and most dear memories of them consist of lessons: in love, learning, and critical attention," he said.
Those lessons ultimately inspired him to return to UAB and enroll in the Alternative Master's Program in Secondary Education.
"In hindsight, it required very little thought," Turner said. "UAB was an excellent home for me during my undergraduate studies."
Once he entered the program, Turner quickly discovered that graduate school would challenge him in new ways. The rigorous curriculum introduced him to educators who helped transform his passions into purposeful practice, none more impactful than Dr. Teaira McMurtry.
"Her disciplinary knowledge is only outstripped by her practice as a mentor and teacher," Turner said.
He credits McMurtry with creating a learning environment that encouraged students to question traditional assumptions about teaching and explore pedagogy in innovative ways.
"In methods and literature courses, she modeled excellence in teaching and critical literacy that will be indispensable touchstones of inspiration as I move forward in my career as an educator," he said.
For him, UAB provided much more than academic preparation. It cultivated a broader understanding of what it means to be an engaged citizen, advocate, and educator. In his own words, many institutions speak about diversity but UAB creates meaningful opportunities for students to learn from one another's lived experiences and perspectives.
"UAB is a nexus of cultural diversity in which the diversity of its students and faculty improve student learning through exposure to myriad literacies and cultural wealth," Turner said.
That environment broadened his worldview and prepared him to advocate for future students both inside and outside the classroom.
Like many graduate students, however, his journey was not without challenges. Throughout much of his graduate education, Turner balanced full-time coursework alongside professional responsibilities, particularly during his student teaching internship.
"It felt like a full sprint the whole time," he said. “I felt I did not always have the time to perform at the level of excellence I expected from myself; yet, in its own way, this experience was itself liberating.”
At first, he struggled with the pressure of maintaining the high expectations he placed on himself. Over time, however, he learned an important lesson about balance.
Sometimes, he realized, stepping away from work can be just as productive as pushing through exhaustion. Reading for pleasure at home, spending time with loved ones, and making space for activities that inspire joy became essential components of his success.
"Sometimes limiting your time can be a blessing," Turner said. That lesson has also shaped the advice he now offers future graduate students.
"The more you make your learning personal, the better you are able to learn and grow," he said.
He encourages students to embrace intellectual curiosity and pursue projects that genuinely resonate with them, even when those ideas may seem unconventional.
"Have the courage to take academic risks that sustain you," Turner said. "Make learning personal wherever you can."
Following his spring graduation, Turner has begun another new chapter. He has relocated to Atlanta to be closer to his family and has joined Benjamin Banneker High School as a nineth-grade English Language Arts (ELA) teacher.
"As a teacher, I hope to provide for my students what the educators at UAB have been able to provide for me," Turner said. "Academic excellence, community advocacy, critical awareness, and love."