SkateboardextremeGraduate Edition

Also in this edition:

Austin Massengale* Aaron Upton* Donovan Upton* and Badazzle*

May 2012

Unleashed:

BUDDYSMITHGraduates

GRADUATION DAY!

On Saturday May 12, Buddy Smith Graduated from Soddy Daisy High School.

He had an interesting year: turning 18, getting a job at Applebeeʼs, attending Prom among many other things. The year was certainly one to remember...as well as the journey to get to this point.

Buddy has been skateboarding ever since I met him and itʼs truly part of who he is. Itʼs one of his passions and talents. Heʼs not only good at it but he loves it...and that makes all the difference.

This issue of Extreme Skateboard will focus on the road Buddy Smith pounded to get to Graduation Day. It will chronicle his travel with Vision 2 Hear and Elevate and reveal a behind the scenes look at his life in school, at home and with friends.

MAY 12, 2012

SENIOR 2012

“I consider skateboarding an art form, a lifestyle and a sport.” Tony Hawk, Professional Skateboarder

Veni-Vidi-Vici ("I came-I saw-I conquered") Julius Caesar

Buddy, has overcome many barriers in life. Graduating from High School is no easy feat these days. Yet he has managed to successfully do that along with many other great accomplishments! This day is a reminder that regardless of what barriers come, with trust and faith in God, hard work and prayer, anyone can overcome the most difficult sitautions.

Don't ever give up. You gotta keep trying, and never give up. Ryan Sheckler

Never, never, never, give up. Winston Churchill

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Ski Trip: WinterplaceWest VirginiaThis was Buddyʼs first attempt at snowboarding and he did quite well. Having been accustomed to the balance needed for skateboarding, he was able to pick up snowboarding in a matter of a few tries and immediately fell in love with this discipline on snow.

Heʼs been snowboarding a couple more times to Sugar Mountain, NC with George and Bobby Smudde and then of course in his own back yard at Austinʼs house.

That year boarding was very interesting because Jorge was with the group and had never really done anything like this before. Will Wainwright choose to ski shirtless most of the day because it was so warm outside. Caleb Crabtree hit several slopes with Buddy and the others. The trip was a great time with many fond memories for all who attended.

"Change is inevitable. Change is constant."Benjamin Disraeli

Buddyʼs always been a person of style and freedom. Itʼs always been reflected in his personality, the way he dresses and his outlook on life. Whether heʼs dealing with a serious sinus infection* or mending broken wrists or ankles...heʼs doing it with his own sense of panache.

STYLE*Buddy has probably been to the hospital no less than 7 times in his high school career. Itʼs a guess but a good one.

PANACHE Concision in style, precision in

thought, decision in life. Victor Hugo

Itʼs not what you do but how you look doing it!Thatʼs panache!

James 1: 27Pure and undefiled religion before our God and Father is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself unstained by the world.

Throughout his high school career, Buddy has done much traveling helping with an organization called Vision 2 Hear. Buddy has done several mission trips to places like Honduras and El Salvador to work with orphans and children in need. His gentle care and concern for these children was heartwarming to see and experience as he reached out to play, laugh and share Christ with them by simply being there.

Buddy has served in El Salvador two times and

Honduras and Costa Rica once each.

Mission BoardingBuddy traveled to El Salvador in June 2011 to help start Elevate Skate in conjunction with Vision 2 Hear Ministries. During the week they built several ramps and boxes for the local skaters. Materials were donated by Americans who believe in reaching students through boarding. Of course Buddy enjoyed helping break in the new ramps and even skated in a competition they had another weekend.

One day your life will flash before your eyes. Make sure its worth watching. Unknown

Buddy spent time in El Salvador working among deaf kids, skaters and the poor. He helped in performing sign language songs, skating demos and serving the people in any way possible.

Life can only be understood backwards, but it must be lived forward. Soren Kierkegaard

“Godʼs greatest blessings are on the bottom and only those who are willing to stoop may get them.”

Buddy served children and friends while overseas and was humble in offering himself to God as an instrument of blessing to others.

Service“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing.” Benjamin Franklin

The LoverThe Skater The Graduate The Comedian

Life is not a problem to be solved,

but a reality to be experienced.

Soren Kierkegaard G

Excursions and Wanderings

Buddy has been to the SKoT several times and enjoyed many crazy car trips from NC to FL. Every one of those trips traveling with Buddy has been a wonderful delight in building memories to last a lifetime!

Buddy has also skated Kona in Jacksonville, FL and Woodward in Atlanta, GA. He’s also made several appearances at the Foundation in Atlanta, GA.

Of course there were various people traveling with Buddy...some of his best friends: Austin, Aaron, Cody Miller, Badazzle and even Donovan. These groupings made for some incredible memories over Spring Breaks 2010 and 2011!

A journey of a thousand miles must begin with a single step.Lao Tsu

Tuck and roll was a big thing during this trip.

Spring Break 10SmithMassengale

Miller

The FoundationAtlanta, Georgia

One of the more famous places for skaters to frequent was The Foundation. Buddy and some of his friends were able to skate at The Foundation on a couple of different occasions. The Foundation as pictured here is no longer in existence.

Every accomplishment starts with the decision to try. Unknown Source b

Spring Break 2011KONASPoT

kSmith

MassengaleUpton

Jordon

LAKE HOUSE FUNBuddy was able to enjoy some great times at the Jenkins Lake House. The girls from El Salvador were able to join also! From riding the inner tubes to the jet ski, everyone had a great time! Thanks to the Jenkins Family Again for a great weekend!

"The wisest men follow their own direction."Euripides

PLOW POINtPlumtree, NC

Always take time to enjoy the view.

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"When you believe in a thing, believe in it all the way, implicitly and unquestionable."Walt Disney

Buddy, Donʼt Stop Believing...

“but those who trust in the Lord

will renew their strength;

they will soar on wings like eagles;

they will run and not grow weary;

they will walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:31

Every journey is filled with highs and lows, valleys and peaks, ebbs and flows, sometimes shallow sometimes deep, the one who succeeds does not do so simply at the end but when he first steps out in belief. Lockhart

I canʼt even count how many times Buddy has

sung this song on our trips!

Other songs that made the playlist of our lives:Simple ManThis Is Home

A friend is one who knows you and loves you just the same. Elbert Hubbard

FRIENDS AND FAMILY MAKE LIFE WORTH LIVING!

Be courteous to all, but intimate with few, and let those few be well tried before you give them your confidence. George Washington

“You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” ― C.S. Lewis

Morehead CityNorth Carolina

“It is our choices, Harry, that show us what we truly are, far more than our abilities.” J.K. Rowling Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

"Be the change that you want to see in the world."Mahatma Gandhi

Change is happening to you. The question is whether change is happening because of you? Lockhart

We all have a mission but we must choose to accept it. Lockhart

Significance isnʼt cheap...if it were it wouldnʼt be significant. Unknown

"The key to successful leadership today is influence, not authority."Kenneth Blanchard

Love God. Love People. Nothing else matters.

But friendship is precious, not only in the shade, but in the sunshine of life, and thanks to a benevolent arrangement the greater part of life is sunshine. Thomas Jefferson

Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything. Muhammad Ali

“You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough.” Mae West

“Be yourself; everyone else is already taken.” Oscar Wilde

“Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other

plans.” John Lennon

“There are only two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle.” Albert Einstein

“To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the

greatest accomplishment.” Ralph Waldo Emerson

SPECIALEVENTS

AtlantaFest 2010

Easter 2009

Buddy shared many events with different people. Some Thanksgivings were with the Wainwrights or Roshavens, while other holidays may have been spent with his own family or in Morehead with Georgeʼs family.

He shared in some great events like Atlanta Fest, Risen Fest, trips to Miami, Tampa, or Atlanta for various camps and retreats.

He enjoyed many Christmases, Easters and birthdays. These events were highlights in Buddyʼs high school years and helped him grow and develop into the young man he is now.

"Believe deep down in your heart that you're destined to do great things."

Joe Paterno

18 Years Old17 Years Old

18 Years Old

14 Years Old

Itʼs so weird that Buddy and Aaron have the same birthday separated by a year...along with Aaronʼs Momʼs BD on the same day February 4. Then Nathan Smoker has his BD on February 5, same year as Buddy. Donovanʼs BD is a week before Aaron and Buddyʼs!Also Austin and Badazzle have the same BD and same year!

“Don't cry because it's over, smile because it happened.”

Dr. Suess

“You've gotta dance like there's nobody watching,

Love like you'll never be hurt,Sing like there's nobody

listening,And live like it's heaven on

earth.” William W. Purkey

Austinʼs BD Woodward

There are times when you may be able to see what will happen and times when you will have to jump and make something happen.

Life is about good improvisation...being able to adapt and shift mid-stream is an art form. Lockhart

Southwind Camp Youth For Christ First Elevate Covenant Church

Krisha Wheeler Buddy Smith

“You know you're in love when you can't fall asleep because reality is finally better than

your dreams.” Dr. Suess

Buddy has always been a fan of Almost and has skated their decks for years.

For about 5 years Buddy traveled with the WAVE team of Vision 2 Hear performing songs, dance and interpretive movement as an outreach and inspiration to students and adults in hospitals, churches and homeless shelters.

George Camp

From eating dog biscuits to

shooting an M&M out of his nose

Buddy served at George Camp

several summers. Kids from 3rd

through 6th grade gather in Miami

for a week to two weeks for a camp unlike any other. Buddy did a great

job of being involved and loving kids.

"My interest is in the future because I am going to spend the rest of my life

there." Charles Kettering

To my dear son Buddy,This is just a small portion of the joy and happiness I have been able to share in with you over the last five years. It is with exuberant enthusiasm that I have seen you reach this pinnacle in your life! What an awesome accomplishment for you! My only regret is that I have not been able to share more with you over this last year due to my travels. However, I have seen you prove your maturity and growth in my absence and I could not be more proud of you than now! On this graduation day you are stepping into a whole new world of wonder, unknowns and possibilities but I am confident that you will be just fine! You have done well and shown yourself to be strong and courageous. May you continue to become a trend-setter and accomplish all that God has for you in the future. Iʼll always love you and be here for you if and when you need me! Iʼll always cherish our times together. Love always, George

Buddy Smith 2012

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