Greensboro Grad Publishes First Book, Shares Importance of Moral Focus

The nine Moral Focus virtues taught at all National Heritage Academies (NHA) schools have a tremendous impact on the lives of our scholars. That was very evident recently at Greensboro Academy as staff learned a former student of theirs had published her first book.

Bella Lamin, 16, a 2022 graduate of Greensboro Academy, is now a published author of a children’s book about gratitude, November’s Moral Focus virtue of the month.

“Gratitude: The Christmas Lesson” is the first book in a series of children’s books that Ms. Lamin plans on writing, which have been inspired by and are dedicated to NHA and Greensboro Academy.

The book follows a young boy who expects to receive a bunch of presents for Christmas but struggles when he gets less than expected. His brother and parents then teach him a valuable lesson about gratitude.



“My time at GA were the best years of my education,” Lamin said. “The school reinforced Moral Focus for me by including it as a part of academics. It was not just something that was said, it was a part of the school culture and continues to resonate with me today.”

Ms. Lamin, now a junior at New Garden Friends School in Greensboro, said she was always an avid reader and her love for reading naturally morphed into writing. That dedication is something commonly seen at Greensboro Academy, which has outperformed the local district for the past 16 years.

“I remember writing as early as age five, and I wrote and submitted this ‘Gratitude’ story to the Moral Focus writing contest when I was in eighth grade. While I did not win, I still wanted to share what I have learned about gratitude through the characters in this book.”

Bella’s second book, which is currently untitled, is complete and ready for publication in the spring of 2025. This book will continue to follow the hero’s journey with a focus on perseverance. The author is eager to demonstrate all the Moral Focus virtues.

“I encourage others to use writing as a way to express themselves and share with those around them,” she said.

Congratulations on your first book, Bella!
About Greensboro Academy
Greensboro Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Greensboro, North Carolina, serving students in kindergarten through eighth grade. It is part of the National Heritage Academies network, which includes more than 100 tuition-free, public charter schools serving more than 65,000 students in kindergarten through 12th grade across nine states. For more information, visit nhaschools.com.

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