Smith encourages students to reach their goals

DaQuan Smith, a scholar/athlete graduate of Holly Springs High School, and the 17 seniors graduating this year were in the spotlight at the Dress for Success banquet held Thursday, April 20, at Oak Palace.

One by one, the young men came to the banquet hall with family as others congratulated them on completing the program.

The students joined the Dress for Success program at the beginning of the school year.

“Their dedication, leadership, attitude, and responsibility prepared them for this world,” said Rev. Dr. R.J. Wilson, program director.

Smith, keynote speaker, completed the same program five years ago and has become one of the hottest college basketball players this season.

“When he graduated from Holly High, he graduated as a scholar-athlete,” Holly Springs Superintendent of Education, Dr. Irene Walton Turnage said when she introduced the former graduate. “He was named to the prestigious Dandy Dozen, one of Mississippi’s 12 best players, in 2017.”

Smith opened with a thank you to his mom, Tiffany Shaw.

“My Mom would say if I got a `B’, why not get an `A’?” he told the crowd.

“It’s such a blessing to be here tonight. I was here five years ago to get my first suit, just like you,” he said. “Sometimes growing up I had to sacrifice things, I had a lot of people who were in my corner. I wrote down my goals and I didn’t go to parties. I was at practice, studying or on the court.”

The 6 feet one guard at Redford University, in Virginia, has continued setting his goals and reached many of them.

“Write your goals down and reach your goals,” Smith told the young men. “I still do this today. I write down my goals. Whether it is basketball, school or how I want to be a better person.

John Sellers Jr.

Write them down and reach your goals.”

Wilson and the Holly Springs School District, with the support and help of Dexter Shipp, Chester `Chic’ Campbell, Roberts Wilson, and many others who donated their time and efforts to have a great program.

The seniors who completed the program are Jabez Jones, Richard Kirklin, John Sellers Jr., Anykiel Milan, Jayden Moore, Brandon Lester, Pablo Arce, Jeremiah Buford, Tredavis Howell, Camron Isom, Kealen Jeffries, Jamarion Lane, Tyler Malone, Martavious Mays, Ja’tavion Pegues, Tytravious Reaves and Trevor Slaughter.

Sellers received the $1,000 scholarship provided by Campbell.

“The first step is graduation. You all should proud of yourselves,” said Smith. “I applaud you all for that.

“Reach for whatever you put your mind to. I want to leave you with something tonight before I go. I want you to dare to be different. Be better than me. Life is short and can be taken from you anytime,” he said.