TAMPA — Long before Robert Smith racked up a 6.67 GPA and earned the title of valedictorian for King High’s traditional class, his grandfather had a few lessons of his own in mind.
So, armed with a stack of flash cards, and a variety of other tools — support among them — Donald Taylor, a former math teacher at King, would sit his grandson down and run through some academic drills.
Those flash cards, and the time Taylor spent with his grandson, turned out to be a good investment.
“He pretty much jumped out of his chair when I told him,” Smith said. Not bad for 92 years of age.
But he wasn’t the only family member who was thrilled.
When Smith receives his diploma May 25, he’ll continue a proud family legacy at King, as both his mother and grandfather taught there, and many of his uncles graduated as Lions before him.
“I wasn’t really aiming to be valedictorian,” Smith said, “it kind of mostly just happened.”
His secret? Stay on top of assignments, ask for help when needed and stay focused.
Mom Brenda, though, says it wasn’t quite that easy. While she says her son is “naturally bright” and determined, climbing the top of the school’s academic mountain required a heavy dose of commitment.
“Robbie sells himself short sometimes, but the thing about him is, if there is something he needs to get done, he gets it done,” she said. “To be valedictorian, you have to put in the work. You have to make sure things get done and those things are done correctly. And he did that. He put in the work.”
Brenda is thrilled that her son is the valedictorian but may be more thrilled that he was accepted into UF, which had roughly 90,000 applicants this year and accepted only 24 percent of them.
He chose USF, and the school’s Honors College, however, where he’ll study finance.
He said finance instructor Jacinto Ferrante-Gennaro nudged him in that direction, and he eventually joined the school’s Finance Academy.
Smith liked the idea of learning about something that could lead to a successful career helping others, while also being a good skill to learn for yourself.
“And USF has a great program,” he added.
Smith said he liked just about every teacher he had at King. Ferrante-Gennaro would certainly make his favorites list, but Smith said he would be joined by many others that all played a role in his development.
The easy-going Temple Terrace resident did dip his toes freshman year in King’s rigorous International Baccalaureate program before deciding it wasn’t the right fit. Instead, Smith switched to the traditional track, loaded up on AP classes and found time for a little fun, like joining the swim and tennis teams and playing a large role in the school’s finance-related student clubs.
In his final words to the class of 2025, when he gives his valedictory speech at the Florida State Fairgrounds Expo Hall, he intends to weave together a message of hope and joy to his fellow graduates.
“High school was a little stressful sometimes,” he said, “but mostly it was fun. And I feel like that's how it's supposed to be.”
Just like those flash cards. A little tough at first, but worth it in the end.
