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Where Are They Now? - Jarrid Smith
11/3/2019 4:31:00 PM | Football
BOCA RATON, Fla. – As a child on the Brighton Seminole Reservation, football was more than a game to former Florida Atlantic University offensive lineman Jarrid Smith. It was a connection to his grandfather, Fred Smith.
Together they attended several University of Florida games, even traveling to Tempe, Arizona, to watch the Gators battle Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl – a 62-24 Florida loss.
Later that year, when Jarrid Smith was 11 years old, his grandfather died of heart failure. But his passion for football endured. Even if he didn't see a future in it.
"I didn't really have an idea of playing in college - ever," Smith said.
That changed midway through Smith's senior year of high school in 2002, when an FAU recruiter visited him and expressed interest.
Smith eventually signed with FAU, becoming the first Native American player in program history. By 2006, his junior year, he was one of only five known Native Americans in Division I football.
Though he didn't think about it at the time, Smith now recognizes the improbability of his journey. But he says the Native American athletes who broke through before him – the ones who didn't have examples to look up to – deserve most of the credit.
"My kind of play in all that, was just sort of walking in the path that they already kind of set, as far as here's something that is achievable, here's something that is doable, no matter who you are, or if there is not anybody else who's done it before that you can kind of rely on to help you," Smith said.
On the field, Smith helped FAU transition from Division I-AA to Division 9 (now known as FBS) in 2004, then led the team to its first bowl win in 2007. And he accomplished even more off the field.
Smith became the first player in program history to graduate and seek a second bachelor's degree, doing so by taking extra classes during the summer and in his redshirt senior year.
"It was just really thinking, 'OK, let me use this time the best I can,'" said Smith, a first-generation college graduate.
Football and academics comprised most of Smith's time, but he always saved some to help others.
Smith volunteered for the Jim Thorpe Native American All-Star game, in addition to coaching for Chaka Stars foundation, a non-profit in his hometown of Okeechobee, Florida.
"I always had a mind to serve others," Smith said.
That mindset developed in part from his grandfather, who was as a tribal president in the 1970's. Smith's roommate, running back B.J. Manley, strengthened it.
Manley was "in the church all the time," and before Smith's senior year, brought him to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting.
Smith's initial appearance turned into several more, as he was enamored with the camaraderie and service elements of the FCA. His positive experience there influenced him to join the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, too.
"Those are opportunities that were always there for me in college, but they didn't mean anything until you join or be a part of them," Smith said.
In December 2008, Smith earned his second bachelor's degree; he joined FAU's master's program in communication and multimedia studies a year after.
However, he had to take his education north.
Smith was selected to the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows in 2009, an opportunity for him to live and work in Tallahassee for a year. So, he took classes at Florida State University while working for the substance abuse and mental health office of the Department of Children and Families.
After his time with the DCF, Smith still felt compelled to help people. He joined AmeriCorps, a U.S. government-backed public service program, to do exactly that.
The program sent him to Miami-Dade college, where he ensured students "had access to resources to stay in school." And that's where he found his calling.
"Through that, I kind of thought I would like to be involved in teaching," Smith said.
Smith was allowed to teach full-time after he received his graduate degree. But being able to teach and actually teaching was much different. Smith didn't know if he could handle the intricacies of things like classroom management right away.
So, to help the transition, Smith began working in the place he felt most comfortable: The Big Cypress reservation, where class sizes were small, the staff was supportive, and the students shared his Seminole descent.
"That was my transition into teaching," said Smith, who started working on the reservation in 2012.
Smith stayed there for three years, then taught at Hollywood Hills High School for two. He's now in his third year as a social studies teacher at Clewiston Christian School.
Two of Smith's four children, seventh-grader Eric and second-grader Rainer, also attend Clewiston Christian School, which he says is a "big reason why I enjoy my work, and definitely one of the reasons I want to stay there."
Smith is close to earning a second master's degree, this one in educational leadership. He's pursuing the degree to become a school administrator – either as a principal or vice principal.
It's yet another example of Smith looking to improve his future over relishing in the present, a strategy he saw former FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger use for his program.
"The importance of having a vision," Smith said of what he learned from Schnellenberger. "And then trying to communicate and make sure that people around you know what it is. And then trying to make sure that becomes sort of the focus of what you do as a whole group or organization.
"If you have it, it makes everyone else's job easier in terms of knowing why you're showing up every day at work."
Together they attended several University of Florida games, even traveling to Tempe, Arizona, to watch the Gators battle Nebraska in the 1996 Fiesta Bowl – a 62-24 Florida loss.
Later that year, when Jarrid Smith was 11 years old, his grandfather died of heart failure. But his passion for football endured. Even if he didn't see a future in it.
"I didn't really have an idea of playing in college - ever," Smith said.
That changed midway through Smith's senior year of high school in 2002, when an FAU recruiter visited him and expressed interest.
Smith eventually signed with FAU, becoming the first Native American player in program history. By 2006, his junior year, he was one of only five known Native Americans in Division I football.
Though he didn't think about it at the time, Smith now recognizes the improbability of his journey. But he says the Native American athletes who broke through before him – the ones who didn't have examples to look up to – deserve most of the credit.
"My kind of play in all that, was just sort of walking in the path that they already kind of set, as far as here's something that is achievable, here's something that is doable, no matter who you are, or if there is not anybody else who's done it before that you can kind of rely on to help you," Smith said.
On the field, Smith helped FAU transition from Division I-AA to Division 9 (now known as FBS) in 2004, then led the team to its first bowl win in 2007. And he accomplished even more off the field.
Smith became the first player in program history to graduate and seek a second bachelor's degree, doing so by taking extra classes during the summer and in his redshirt senior year.
"It was just really thinking, 'OK, let me use this time the best I can,'" said Smith, a first-generation college graduate.
Football and academics comprised most of Smith's time, but he always saved some to help others.
Smith volunteered for the Jim Thorpe Native American All-Star game, in addition to coaching for Chaka Stars foundation, a non-profit in his hometown of Okeechobee, Florida.
"I always had a mind to serve others," Smith said.
That mindset developed in part from his grandfather, who was as a tribal president in the 1970's. Smith's roommate, running back B.J. Manley, strengthened it.
Manley was "in the church all the time," and before Smith's senior year, brought him to a Fellowship of Christian Athletes meeting.
Smith's initial appearance turned into several more, as he was enamored with the camaraderie and service elements of the FCA. His positive experience there influenced him to join the Student Athlete Advisory Committee, too.
"Those are opportunities that were always there for me in college, but they didn't mean anything until you join or be a part of them," Smith said.
In December 2008, Smith earned his second bachelor's degree; he joined FAU's master's program in communication and multimedia studies a year after.
However, he had to take his education north.
Smith was selected to the Florida Gubernatorial Fellows in 2009, an opportunity for him to live and work in Tallahassee for a year. So, he took classes at Florida State University while working for the substance abuse and mental health office of the Department of Children and Families.
After his time with the DCF, Smith still felt compelled to help people. He joined AmeriCorps, a U.S. government-backed public service program, to do exactly that.
The program sent him to Miami-Dade college, where he ensured students "had access to resources to stay in school." And that's where he found his calling.
"Through that, I kind of thought I would like to be involved in teaching," Smith said.
Smith was allowed to teach full-time after he received his graduate degree. But being able to teach and actually teaching was much different. Smith didn't know if he could handle the intricacies of things like classroom management right away.
So, to help the transition, Smith began working in the place he felt most comfortable: The Big Cypress reservation, where class sizes were small, the staff was supportive, and the students shared his Seminole descent.
"That was my transition into teaching," said Smith, who started working on the reservation in 2012.
Smith stayed there for three years, then taught at Hollywood Hills High School for two. He's now in his third year as a social studies teacher at Clewiston Christian School.
Two of Smith's four children, seventh-grader Eric and second-grader Rainer, also attend Clewiston Christian School, which he says is a "big reason why I enjoy my work, and definitely one of the reasons I want to stay there."
Smith is close to earning a second master's degree, this one in educational leadership. He's pursuing the degree to become a school administrator – either as a principal or vice principal.It's yet another example of Smith looking to improve his future over relishing in the present, a strategy he saw former FAU coach Howard Schnellenberger use for his program.
"The importance of having a vision," Smith said of what he learned from Schnellenberger. "And then trying to communicate and make sure that people around you know what it is. And then trying to make sure that becomes sort of the focus of what you do as a whole group or organization.
"If you have it, it makes everyone else's job easier in terms of knowing why you're showing up every day at work."
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