Brandon Smith was headed down the wrong path in high school, disrespecting his mother. Mr. Leonard, who was dating Brandon's mother, saw potential in Brandon and made a deal to work with him on basketball if he committed to respecting his mother. Mr. Leonard worked with Brandon intensively, improving his skills and discipline. Brandon thrived under Mr. Leonard's guidance, improving his grades and responsibility. By his senior year, Brandon was a star player, having transformed his life thanks to Mr. Leonard stepping in and supporting him.

1. WILL THE REAL BRANDON SMITH
PLEASE STAND UP
THESIS STATEMENT
During my sophomore year of high school, I was definitely
headed down the wrong path. I was disrespectful to my mother.
I would always be short with my words or wave her off if there
was something that I didn’t want to hear. At that time, Mr.
Leonard started dating my mother. He was quite, but we found
out very early that we had something in common outside of my
mother and that was basketball. We realized we had a love for
the game; however, Mr. Leonard would notice the way I would
talk back to my mom and he made a deal with me. He basically
made a commit to me, but I had to make a commitment too. Our
agreement was that he would work me out and get me to a level
that would increase my stamina, strength and vertical. He
explained to me that he was the youngest of 8 children and that
“respect” was owed to his mother in their household. He said
his brothers would chastise him if he ever spoke out of line with
his mother and he would appreciate it if I would not speak
disrespectful to my mother. I never treated my mother badly,
but as a teenager, I thought I knew everything and Mr. Leonard
was right. I needed to “bite” my tongue. To this day, I always
try to not back talk my mother or any adult in authority. Now,
my mother receives great reports of how well she raised me and
what a respectful child she has. My mother loves hearing
praises of my attitude and honestly, I do too.
By the time my junior year in high school rolled around, Mr.
Leonard was a huge part of my life. My mother decided to
move me to a new school to get me away from old habits and
unnecessary friends who had no desire to live right. School at
Kennedale, was definitely a huge change. He came walking
towards me one day and stated that we were going to start

2. running. To run is the only way to keep your endurance up in
any sport. Leonard enjoys running. Running is not fun to me,
but I ran a mile a day. As soon as school let out in June of
2011, Mr. Leonard and I started a “two-a-days” program.
Basically, we worked out 2 to 3 hours in the morning and 2 to 3
hours every evening. He had purchased a program off the
internet that would increase my whole structure. I became
stronger, my footwork was better and I could dunk the
basketball accelerating high above the rim. When I first went
up and dunked, I was shocked and amazed at myself. All the
hard work, commitment and dedication had paid off. Mr.
Leonard wouldn’t always workout with me. His swollen legs
would keep him from working out sometimes, but he would
always be there for me no matter what.
Finally, things started to change for me in my senior year of
high school. I was the “big man” on campus. I carried a 3.0
grade point average. Suspension and detention was not an
option. I had made a commitment, a deal with Mr. Leonard that
I would walk the straight and narrow and he would always be at
my side no matter what, to make sure I succeed in the sports
world. Not realizing, that he had changed my whole world of
thinking, Mr. Leonard had made me responsible. I was working
very hard at trying not to depend on my mother to take care of
important things like, making sure I got up in the morning on
time for school or getting to practice on time. I started setting
my own alarm clock on my cell phone to remind to turn in
homework or prepare for a test. My mother didn’t have to
worry about me being late because I took the responsibility to
always be early. I didn’t want to get in trouble because I didn’t
want to lose Mr. Leonard’s respect. Not to mention, I had built
a trusting relationship with my mother. I started to see a lot of
what she had to endure as a single parent of 2 boys. I didn’t
want to stay out late and be somewhere I didn’t belong because
I loved being healthy and certainly enjoyed that my senior year
in high school would be the best.
On June 8, 2012 I, Brandon Smith graduated with a 3.3 GPA.

3. The first person I hugged when I came off the graduation floor
was my mother and then Mr. Leonard. I highly respect my
mother for all she endured raising me and my brother. I
ultimately respect Mr. Leonard for stepping into my life at the
age of 15 and treating me as if I were his own son. I went from
a basketball player who barely got playing time to a starter my
senior year. I also received Best Defensive Player of the Year
and Honorable Mention in District Play. I went from a Head
Coach who didn’t understand me at the beginning of my junior
year to a Head Coach that thought the world of me before the
season ended my senior year and announced his praise of me at
the Basketball Banquet. One month after my graduation from
high school, I was recruited to a Divisional I Junior College for
basketball and responsibly, I am now in my second year of
college all because a stranger took the time and made me part of
his world.