Jontae Smith Follows Her Dreams
Since Jontae Smith came to the Huntington School District as a fourth grader she has grown academically, athletically and socially. The teenager is quickly becoming a track star this winter and plans to participate in the sport next year in college.
Ms. Smith works hard in her classes, which this year include forensic science, advanced algebra and chemistry, among several others. While she likes the courses she is taking, "I love forensic science," she said.
The senior has devoted an enormous number of hours to training and competing on the track. Ms. Smith has been steadily reducing her time in the 400m run and now competes during the winter season as well as in the spring.
Ms. Smith recently ran on the four-member sprint medley relay team that broke the Huntington High School record in the event. Unlike most relay races, the sprint medley requires each relay team member to cover a different distance. Ms. Smith was excited to break the school record with "an amazing time."
As she enters her final months at Huntington High School, Ms. Smith said some of the memories she will continue to cherish are "getting to know most everybody in the school and being with my friends."
The senior leads a busy life, but has made time to consider her future. "I am interested in criminal justice," Ms. Smith said. She has been accepted by South Florida University and Erie Community College in Buffalo. "I plan on running track in college," she said.
When asked to give some advice Huntington High School's incoming freshman class, Ms. Smith said they should "follow your dreams and don't let people put you down for what you want to accomplish or become in life because you only have one chance."