He attended church school at twelve years old. The environment of the school was awful, there were no inside toilets, chairs, desks, benches, and not even church services. In order to write they had to used their laps or on pews. There were no televisions or radios to listen and watch, all they did was talk about stories. The drinking water was drawn from the well and the wood was hauled to burn heat. Black teacher salaries paid by white school board which the fraction of those paid white teachers twice a year. (Bouque 31) Gaines attended Vallejo College, San Francisco State College and in 1957, he graduated at Stanford University. In 1955 through 1958, Gaines joined the military Services and the U.S. Army.
Gaines matured as he was getting his future together. ( Callahan 90) Gaines graduated from high school in 1951. He enrolled in Vallejo Junior College which he the first male to enter college. Gaines was very athletic in high school. Gaines received numerous track letters and awards. He had set a 220 - yard dash and stood twenty years in athletic activities until injured his knee bad. Gaines majored in English and minored in Social Studies and also creative writing. He participated in poetry, drama, and short stories. He was only black in writing class. He received an Associate of Arts and Journalism which he did receive a Bachelor of Arts in creative writing. The same year he was drafted into the army, he served two years. During college years, Gaines took odd jobs like shining shoes, dishwashing, and cab driving.
Gaines influences came from the inspirations in music school. ( Callahan 100) From growing up he loved to listen to Jazz, Folk, Blues, and Spiritual music. Gaines loved to tell and listen to stories. He always did his own work with his own distinct favor. He liked a lot of black writers who had values and were highly education. Gaines was inspired by gifted young black people that he highly respected.