Ryan Smith
“I do cross country; I get a shirt [for running five hundred miles over the summer] and running those miles improves your endurance. I didn’t think of the five hundred miles as, ‘I have to run five hundred miles.’ I [have the mindset that], six days a week, I have to run. [I] started [running] about four to five miles a day and was able to build up over the course of the summer. It’s just that I had my goal; I wanted to be on varsity. I wanted to get the red legs this season, so I had my goal in mind. Red legs are a new set of warmups made up of a nicer jacket, thin hoodie, and red sweatpants, given to anyone who runs sub-18:15 in the 5k [race]. They have been a goal since I joined [the sport in] sophomore year. They are often a mark of being on varsity as well and can make you feel like you made it. I guess the same thing is true for motivating myself for school; I have my goal of keeping up my grades. Stay involved with something because it’s good to have multiple [hobbies] going on. Make sure to decide what you want your focus to be. You can be involved in multiple things, but, if you want to focus on sports and school, make sure to keep it balanced. Enjoy your high school years. Have some passion in what you do.” – Ryan Smith, 12
Donate to Pathfinder
$190
$800
Contributed
Our Goal
Your donation will support the student journalists of Parkway West High School. Your contribution will allow us to purchase equipment and cover our annual website hosting costs.
About the Contributor
![Sage Kelly](https://pwestpathfinder.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/IMG_0017-2-e1707926555385-600x426.jpg)
Sage Kelly, Staff Writer
Pronouns: he/him
Grade: 9
Years on staff: 1
What is your favorite piece of literature? "Of Mice and Men."
Who is your hero? My mom. She's the hardest-working person I know.
If you could only eat one thing for the rest of your life, what would it be? Chicken souvlaki from Greece.