To the editor,
“Because Every Kid Matters.” This phrase serves as the slogan for Tristan Smith’s campaign to become a member of the Lynn School Committee… but it means much more if you genuinely get to know him — it is the mantra by which he lives his life.
Three years ago, I wrote a Letter to the Editor titled “A Champion for the Future,” in which I discussed how Coach Tristan Smith served as a positive role model for me as a student, athlete, and young man. His compassion, leadership, and work ethic inspire not just me, but all those who are fortunate enough to know Coach Smith, to reach for and attain new heights. I like to say he transforms the phrase “impossible” to “I’m possible.”
I first met Coach Smith my freshman year at St. Mary’s High School at an indoor track informational meeting. I was first struck by his commanding leadership presence, personable nature, and compassionate coaching style. Everyone in the room could instantly tell that Coach Smith devoted himself not just to bettering his athletes as competitors, but also as students and people. Fast forward four years, and I can say with certainty that he not only pushed me to become a better athlete but also truly exemplifies the team’s motto, “You Matter,” inspiring those around him to do the same. He fosters a community of acceptance, determination, and camaraderie like I have never encountered.
This uplifting community, one where everyone believes in each other, has undoubtedly played a significant part in getting me to where I am today. Transitioning from a high school student in Lynn to a Neuroscience and Government student at Harvard University has certainly been a daunting task. However, through the self-confidence I have developed under Coach Smith’s guidance, I have been able to hit the ground running. I have also been fortunate enough to carry around a token that Coach gave me upon my graduation from St. Mary’s: a crinkled, yellow piece of notebook paper.
After my speech at graduation, Coach Smith came up to me, hugged me, and handed me an envelope. When I got home, I ripped it open to find a handwritten letter addressed to me, congratulating me on graduating high school and wishing me the best in college. But the aspect of the letter that most stuck out to me was the following phrase: “Wake up every day and decide to be Chance Bonfanti.”
After much reflection, I have come to realize what Coach meant: Never be afraid to be yourself. This idea is one he emphasized on the track team and in the classroom, creating an inviting space for everyone to participate, have their voices heard, and work together to achieve a common goal. Growing up, I always felt different from those around me, whether that was in school, sports, or in my community. But with Coach Smith as a coach, educator, and mentor, I have felt nothing shy of seen, heard, and valued. He is the kind of person who fights tooth and nail for those he cares about and what he believes in, and I couldn’t be more grateful to have him in my corner as I begin this next chapter of my life at Harvard.
This leads me to my overarching point on why Coach Smith is the person you want in the corner of all Lynn students: He wakes up every day and decides to be Coach Tristan Smith… because who he is, what he stands for, and where he is going are precisely what the students in Lynn need. Even after graduating, I still carry with me that same crinkled, yellow piece of notebook paper, which serves as a reminder to consistently and authentically be myself — a trait I have emulated from him.
Chance Bonfanti
Lynn
