Written by Hannah Skeene. Edited by Ava Erwin.
Red-stained shoes, sore muscles, sweaty arms and legs, the absurdly hot Florida sun, rapidly emptying water bottles, dirty uniform… a track meet. Emerging amidst all of this, an athlete, a cut above the rest, a leader and a winner, Geriah Street.
A student at George Jenkins High School, Street leads the charge against rival schools both as an athlete and a leader, with athletic experience in basketball, track and field, and the JROTC raiders team. Her unique disposition of determination, ruthlessness, and benevolence has shaped her into a forerunner of success. The roles in which she displays her leadership are numerous, consisting primarily of her authority on the track and field team, her captaincy on the JROTC raiders team, and her influence within the JROTC battalion as a member of the cadet staff. Maintaining an excellent standing in so many roles is an immense challenge, yet Street navigates her days with an air of composure.
While her academic achievements are note-worthy, Street truly shines in athletic settings, achieving the goal of winning back the Cadet Challenge county trophy for the JROTC battalion and sweeping track meets all over central Florida. Her innate leadership abilities are displayed in her advice to other, younger athletes: “Don’t stop, like ever, not ‘till your race is [done]. When you get hurt, get better and keep going. [If you get] a chance to be a better version of yourself, take it.”
Street noted that some benefits of track and field are “having a family, like you’re never really alone. You also gain leadership and experience with others and how they function. You have a high level of discipline and respect, learning how to be consistent even if you don’t want to.”
Whether leading a group of JROTC cadets to victory, or encouraging and bolstering the track team, Street stands out. Her leadership, discipline, kindness, and drive shine a well-deserved spotlight on one of the greatest athletes our school has seen.
