In a Runners World
By Lyndsay Smith
21 Mar 2008
Growing up, Adam was always a go getter. Something always told me he was going to make his mark on the world.
Although coming from a single parent home wasn't always easy, he always found ways to make his dreams come true. Whether he was taking on a paper route at age 9, getting up in the wee hours of the morning to deliver papers before school just so he could earn some money so he was able to play on a traveling hockey league or working at a fast food chain at 15 so he could save up enough money to buy himself a car, his drive and ambition always drove him to succeed.
When Adam was 13 and in the 8th grade, he discovered the sport of cross country/track. From that moment on, he was hooked. Throughout his high school career, he was the leader on his team, motivating everyone that he came into contact with. In his senior year of high school, he was being recruited to several different colleges in the area and he ended up choosing St Vincent College in Latrobe PA.
He landed a partial athletic scholarship, proving his athletic abilities and many different academic grants due to his good grades in high school. Once he started attending SVC, he flourished into the fine, young man he is today. He has been on the Deans List every semester, he holds down an internship at Kennametal Inc in Latrobe Pa, working in their accounting department, and runs faithfully everyday. He has more ambition and drive in his pinky finger than most of do in our entire body.
And even though he is very busy with school, work, and running, he still finds time for his friends and his family. I am so proud of what he has accomplished so far in his life and I look forward to many more accomplishments from this young, bright and determined young man.
He recently took the individual title at the2008 Eastern College Athletic Conference in Bristol Rhode Island, which helped his team finish seventh in the race. The love he has for life and the love he has for his running is something to be envied.
He is now 22 and and a Senior in college. He has landed himself a wonderful job at an Accounting Firm in Pittsburgh PA and after graduating college he has plans to train for the Olympic Trials.
There isn't a day that goes by that you'll see him just sitting around. He is either running, working, studying or watching the Penguin games with his friends. He never ceases to amaze me with all he has on his plate. I almost think he thrives on being busy.
I am proud to be able to say that I know him and I'm even more proud to say that he is my brother. I may be 5 years older than him, but I look up to him with admiration and respect. Probably more than he'll ever know. He's the kind of person we all strive to be and through it all, he makes it all seem so easy. And it is because of my younger brother that I try my hardest everyday to live my life to the fullest and work hard at everything that I do. He is...my hero.
3 responses
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Lynn H gave props (16 Dec 2008):
I would love to see this published! It's well written, interesting and the photos are great! :) My vote
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Ann Reece gave props (18 Dec 2008):
I think this deserves to be published! It is a great story of success and we need more stories like this : ).
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David Eastham gave props (22 Feb 2009):
You have my vote.
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