Jemal Smith '27

One moment that helped shape who I am today happened during my freshman year, when our varsity basketball team lost in the state championship game. In the moment, it was heartbreaking. After months and months of hard work, coming up short on the biggest stage felt like the worst possible ending to an otherwise strong season. 
  

Looking back, I’m genuinely grateful it happened because of everything that came after. In the weeks and months following that loss, the returning players on the team didn’t drift apart. We grew closer. We spent more time together during that spring and summer. We weren't just training, but bonding in ways that went far beyond basketball. The players who had been just my “teammates” or “friends” became like family to me. That shift changed everything. 
  

When school started again in the fall, our connection was stronger than ever. I wasn’t just walking into a new school year and season, I was walking in with a support system. Having older teammates I was close to made a big difference in my life off the court, too. I felt comfortable reaching out for help, whether it was with schoolwork, advice, or just needing someone to talk to. I knew they had my back. 
  

That same connection showed up on the court. We trusted each other, played unselfishly, and had each other’s best interests in mind every game. What we built through that shared loss turned into something legendary. We won 42 games, beat the number-one team in the country, won a conference championship, and, for the first time in Highland School history, won a Division I state title. 
  

That experience taught me a lot about resilience, leadership, and the value of strong relationships. It showed me that, sometimes, failure isn’t the end of the story. It’s the beginning of something better. Losing that championship my freshman year was one of the toughest moments I’ve had at Highland, but it also ended up being one of the most important.