Emperor Garris is master of all subjects.  No, he is not a tyrannical ruler bent on breaking the will of his fellow classmates. Garris is the master of all school subjects.

“The first day he came in and wanted to know if I was ok if he asked questions and I said of course,” said AP History teacher Mrs. Bettye Boone. “Sometimes he asks questions that I don’t even know the answer to, so it’s a learning process.”

It’s not every high school that can claim one of their students is an emperor; however, sophomore Carl Garris wears that title proudly.  In fact it’s clearly printed across the bottom of his I.D.

“I declared myself emperor,” says Garris.

Along with naming himself emperor, Garris has also given titles to some of his fellow students.

“I’ve appointed…Jordan Miller, Lady Jordan…I appointed TJ Longshore my master assassin so he is now Sir TJ Longshore.  After admitting Oklahoma as procreate state of Chapin High School, I appointed Ben Davis, Lord Benjamin Davis-Governor Viceroy of Oklahoma among others.”

Along with his imperial duties, Garris is an exceptional student.  His AP World History teacher, Mrs. Boone says she appreciates his hard work and devotion.

“Carl is extremely bright, extremely concerned with his learning, which a teacher loves to have in a student.  He comes ready to learn.  But more importantly as a student, and he’s demonstrated that this year, is his concern for others,” said Boone.

Anyone that knows Carl knows that it’s his personality that makes him, not his abilities. 

“I mean he’s a really great person, I don’t know why anybody wouldn’t like him.  He’s probably the reason half of the AP students are passing.” fellow classmate and sophomore, Sarah Roof said.

Garris created an AP World History Study Guide on Facebook to help his fellow classmates.

“I saw that a lot of my peers weren’t doing really well in it so I started the study group for AP,” Garris said. 

Anyone taking AP World History this year knows that it’s a challenge and some stay on Facebook for hours, reviewing and studying with Carl.

It’s almost amazing to think that someone who strives to reach excellence can take time out of their day to help others.    

“It would be very easy for someone like Carl to come in, do his work, only worry about his average and not be concerned about other people and that’s not what he’s demonstrated…He truly, truly cares about other people getting it,” Mrs. Boone says.