Mike Smith grew up in the small Midwest town of Imperial, NE. Like many of today’s students, his life was far from perfect. While he was a standout on the basketball court (going on to play in college), Mike struggled making grades in the classroom and staying out of trouble off the court. Seeking acceptance and wanting to fill the void he was feeling, he turned to a wild and rebellious lifestyle. After losing friends in a drunk-driving accident, Mike saw the path he was on was leading him somewhere he didn’t want to be.
He made a commitment to change his life and to help keep others from making the same mistakes he did. Using stories from his own life and his nine plus years of working with youth, Mike will share his struggles, failures, and losses and will passionately encourage students to run hard after their own dreams and not make the same mistakes he did.