Agent Hall (3rd from right) is our first profile in this year’s “Get To Know” series.
It’s time to meet another one of your School Safety Agents here at Truman. As much as Truman students love to play video games, they may have met their video-gaming match in School Safety Agent Hall.
“Streetfighter.. Sega.. N64.. Dreamcast. You name it, I had it,” Hall says. However, you won’t find him streaming on Twitch or doing commentaries on Youtube anymore.
“I have kids now, so it’s a little bit harder,” Hall says. “My time is preoccupied playing and entertaining them.”
Like most of our students, Agent Hall is a Bronx native. He grew up on Sedgwick Avenue near Roberto Clemente State Park. As a kid, he enjoyed playing basketball, hanging out with his friends, and of course- playing video games. Coming from a family of lifelong Catholics, he attended Cardinal Hayes high school on the Grand Concourse.
“It was actually very interesting,” Hall recalls. “A lot of people have misconceptions about us Catholic school kids. That we’re spoiled.” He says with him, that definitely was not the case.
Agent Hall checks out a camera stabilizer with 2018 graduate Abel Zewde.
Agent Hall studied electrical engineering and accounting for a few years in college, but had to join the workforce before graduating. He says he went from job to job – having worked as a banker, and even in a Whole Foods Market.
“I loved that job! It opened up my eyes to a whole new world when it comes to food,” Hall says. “I learned a lot about organic food, what’s good to eat… healthy… It opened up my eyes to how in lower class communities – the foods they don’t get.”
So how did Agent Hall end up here at Truman? In 2011 he made the decision to take the civil service exam to become a school safety agent. In fact, he forgot about taking the test when two years later, he received a phone call.
“They called me on a Wednesday and said you need to be here on Thursday,” he recalls. He went on to say he’s glad he landed the job and is here at Truman. “I got to meet a lot of great people here.”
Agent Hall shares even more in common with our students. He loves to work out, and he has a great passion for World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE). He hasn’t been to a live event in several years, but says he would love to go back.
When asked about his most distinguishing feature, Agent Hall had a quick and sure answer: his eyes. He says he gets compliments about them at least once a day.
Agent Hall (back, right) enjoys basketball. He plays in the staff-student game each year.
“I’ve heard it my whole life. I was raised to be a humble respectful person. I was raised to not have an over the top ego. My eyes don’t make me. They don’t’ make who I am,” Hall said with a smile. “My personality is what makes me who I am.”
He says he loves a wide variety of music, with his favorites being Metallica and the Stone Temple Pilots.
“I just appreciate music for what it is. You look at the way I dress, (the way) I talk, you wouldn’t think I listen to that.”
Agent Hall says he’s not sure what the future holds for his life and his career.
“I take that one day at a time,” Hall says. “I’ll always take the best opportunities that I see fit for me.”
Agent Hall says he can sometimes be shy- and avoids public speaking. So, the next time you see him in the building – take a moment to say hello.