Zion Smith’s team won the Par 3 Challenge at The Bridge on August 1.
Each month we are interviewing one of the young men in our after school program. This month we meet Zion Smith, a 15-year-old from Harlem who loves science, golf, football and trigonometry.
Tell us about your family and other important people in your life.
ZS: I have two siblings and my mother, who is a widow. My father passed away from cancer, and I would say right now the most important people in my life are my brother Rodney and my mother because they are always there for me.
What is your favorite subject in school, and why?
ZS: My favorite subject in school is science because I love studying all that life has to offer and because I love animals very much. There are so many mysteries in how life was developed.
What do you want to be when you grow up, and why?
ZS: I want to be a pro golfer by day and a computer engineer by night.
What do you like about being a part of The Bridge Golf Foundation? How has it made an impact in your life?
ZS: I like that I’m doing a sport other than basketball and football. Beyond golf, all the great staff has helped me along the away with life lessons.
Besides golf, what is your favorite sport to play?
ZS: I love to play football and basketball because they remind me of my father, who used to coach me in both sports.
Which STEM lesson or area of study has been your favorite so far?
ZS: My favorite area of study has to be trigonometry because it is difficult, and I love challenging myself.
What is your favorite trip since joining the program? We’ve been to a lot of great places – The Bridge in Southhampton, PGA Championship, USGA Museum and Test Center, City College, Camp Getaway, and more.
ZS: My favorite trip has to be the Par 3 Challenge we played at The Bridge because it was my first golf competition, and my team ended up coming in first.
What’s the strongest part of your golf game right now?
ZS: Chipping and the full swing, but I am still working really hard to master the putting stroke.
One fact about you that nobody in our program knows?
ZS: Nothing. The Bridge is my family and I inform them about everything, and they are there to help me when I need them.
Favorite sports teams/music/video games.
ZS: My favorite sport is football; I love the Broncos and Steelers. Music is hip-hop. For video games, I love to play Destiny because I have to think hard and test myself.
How has Character Education impacted you as an individual in and out of our program?
ZS: Character ED has improved my social intelligence and makes me more aware of what is going on in the outside world.