Senior Matthew Green walks down the field with his father, Donarell Green; mother, Tara McKinley, and brother, Miles Green on Nov. 6 for Clarke Central High School’s senior night. “I am proud of being a great brother to my youngest brother, experiencing different activities, and just succeeding,” Green said.
Photo by Julie Alpaugh.
Update: The ODYSSEY Media Group will provide viewers with weekly stylized profiles that center on people in the Athens community telling their own stories.
By FLORA LECHTRECK – Staff Writer
Senior Matthew Green sits in class, quietly finishing his work. Green is a respectful student, who never causes anyone any trouble. However, he wasn’t always the model student he is now. In middle school, he acted out and got into trouble frequently.
When Senior Matthew Green attended Burney Harris Lyons Middle School he had behavioral issues and lacked the passion for the education he has today.
“Well, (in) middle school, I had a few problems. I was in trouble most of the time. I would get suspended, detention sent out of class,” Green said.
Green had reasons for acting this way. He was taking his energy and frustration out without realizing how it affected him.
“I was pretty much at a time where I was young and didn’t know any better,” Green said.
Once Green reached the eighth grade, his good behavior and grades increased drastically. He started to listen to others more and started acting out less. According to him, this is the main reason why he is so quiet most of the time now.
As Green was making this change, he began to notice that he was also surrounding himself with different people. He realized that in order to be successful in school, he had to surround yourself with people who also wanted him to succeed.
“I definitely made different friends, because the people that I was with in middle school, they were on the wrong path as well. So with me changing myself, I definitely found a different set of friends. Friends that I never thought I would talk to. People who are so into school and academics,” Green said.
Green was motivated not only by his friends and family but also his sports. Green plays football, wrestles and does Track and Field. Participating in these sports has helped him to stay on track and achieve what he wants.
Green plans to attend college, go to grad school and get a master’s degree. He then wants to build a career for himself and continue to be a role model to younger people, like his youngest brother Miles.
“I just tell myself to stay focused, be who you are, be different and don’t do what everybody else does, that influences me to stay on the right track,” Green said.
