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EDUCATION
2*1 4
ICH AiMPIONl
March 31 - April 6, 2016 • Page 19A
Doing what's needed
Miller Grove's Franklin Smith makes his mark
by R. Scott Belzer
sbelzer@dekalbchamp.com
M iller Grove High School
sophomore Franklin
Smith has one simple
rule for his academic,
athletic and community-
involved success: do whatever is
necessary.
With this rule, Smith has
garnered accolades and good
grades in the classroom. Smith is
a member of the National Honor
Society and an accepted member
of the National Society of High
School Scholars. His 4.0 grade
point average is a source of pride.
By doing whatever is necessary,
Smith has found success on the
football field. It has carried that
same success into the basketball
arena and into the sanctuary of his
church, Big Miller Grove Missionary
Baptist Church. When he’s not
dedicating 15 to 20 hours per week
to lifting weights or running in the
gym, he can be found spending five
to six hours per week in parking lots
throughout DeKalb County picking
up trash and providing security and
usher duties for his church.
If one asks Smith about what he
does, the Lithonia resident provides
a humble answer.
“I don’t do a lot, but I do a lot
at the same time,” Smith said. “I
try to live where I put others before
myself.”
Doing whatever is necessary
may seem simple in concept, but
Smith is living proof it is not always
easy to implement. When Smith
was 14, his older brother was
shot and killed in Covington—just
a stone’s throw from his Lithonia
home.
“He was 29, it was a drive-by,”
Smith said. “I always keep him in
my heart.”
That brother’s children are
now Smith’s at-home passion. The
sophomore can be found taking
care of them at home when the
chance presents itself. While Smith
loves time spent contributing to the
community, he enjoys time with
family even more
Football, however, is something
Smith does for himself. He can
be found on the offensive and
defensive end for the Wolverines,
switching between playing tight end
and defensive end.
“I love the game,” Smith said. “I
love the physicality, the contact—all
of it.”
In the same way, Smith
dedicates a healthy amount of
time to Miller Grove’s basketball
program as a power forward.
“I love the exercise,” Smith
said. “I’m very competitive. Our
basketball program has won
seven out of the last eight state
championships. Our whole sports
program is good at Miller Grove.”
While Smith does enjoy running,
jumping, shooting and tackling,
he also finds time for expressing
himself. The sophomore includes
writing poetry among his list of
passions.
“I write about life—persevering
through life when things hit you
and bring you down,” Smith
said. “Really, it’s caused by my
environment. You see kids and the
youth of today—it seems like it’s
going down. I write, because, for
some of us, it’s not that we want to
do what we’re doing but we don’t
know any better. I write to get that
off my chest. I don’t want to be a
statistic—I want to be the one that
did something with my life.”
Smith said his favorite two
quotes are “You can’t kill what
refuses to die,” and “Seize the
moment.” Not only does Smith live
by them, but he also incorporates
their meaning into his poetry.
“I’m very blessed,” Smith said.
“Those two quotes are the reason I
do what I do.”
Smith said he’s had a lot of
help along the way in staying
positive and focused. He counts
Miller Grove High history teacher
Charmaine Brown as his biggest
influence
“She does everything,” Smith
said. “She checks on my grades, if I
drop [a class or activity] she’s going
to ask me why I dropped. She’s like
a second mom to me.”
Smith said he plans on
attending either Duke University or
Georgia Tech because they mirror
his own well-rounded lifestyle. He
plans to pursue degrees in both
computer engineering and business
administration.
“Duke has great sports, great
academics,” Smith said. “I’ve been
on Tech’s campus. They have great
technology programs and great
athletics. My dream is to become
a CEO and own my own franchise.
But technology is taking over the
world; if you don’t get hip with
technology now, you’re in for a rude
awakening.”
Smith said he’s been a positive
influence for his friends. A couple
of his closest friends wonder what
Smith does to maintain himself—
his drive, athletic ability, societal
commitments and sanity—and
Smith has a simple answer.
“Just do what it takes—
whatever is needed,” Smith said.
“That’s all it takes. It’s the way I
carry myself. Whether I’m in church
or out of church, I try to carry myself
the same way, regardless: God first,
then family, then whatever else.”