My name is Tripp Smith, and I am a graduate of Hillcrest high School and am attending East Carolina University to play football. Some of my hobbies are playing sports, working on cars, listening to music, cooking, and collecting fitted hats and vintage sports memorabilia. My story is I went to East Carolina in the summer for summer football workouts, and when I got there it was determined through medical tests that I have Stage 4 Hodgkins Lymphoma. I am currently undergoing chemotherapy and I am halfway through my treatments and I feel very healthy and better than I ever have.
Q: Tell us about yourself, including a little bit about where you grew up, your education, your family, interests, passions, and career?
I grew up here in Simpsonville SC, and so far I have graduated from Hillcrest, and am attending East Carolina University to get my Nursing Degree. My mom is Stacia Smith, dad is Stephen Smith, and brother is Colin Smith. My passions include studying medicine, playing football, and traveling to new places. My goal for my career is to be a Travel Nurse, where I travel around the world and help people in need.
Q: How long have you lived or worked in The Golden Strip?
I have lived in The Golden Strip my whole life.
Q: (Even for friends or family), what is something interesting that most people don’t know about you?
I was a 5 star football prospect ranked 7th in the nation for long snapping, and in high school I was also a 3 sport athlete playing football, baseball, and throwing Javelin and discus.
Q: Who is the most interesting person you’ve met here in The Golden Strip?
Two of the most interesting people I have meet are Anthony Rizzo and Madison Bumgarner.
Q: What current / former local business makes you the most nostalgic about The Golden Strip?
The Ice Cream Station, it is the best place to get ice cream in the Golden Strip.
Q: What is your favorite thing or something unique about The Golden Strip?
How everyone here is friendly, and how the community will support you no matter what.
Q: With so much growth in our area, there are always new places popping up. Tell us about the a “new to you” place that you recently tried.
A new place that I really like is the Coffee Exchange in Simpsonville, they have the best coffee and breakfast sandwiches.
Q: What 3 words or phrases come to mind when you think of the word HOME or NEIGHBOR?
Hillcrest, small town, and Friday night lights.
Q: If you had friends or family visiting you from out of town, what is the one place that you must take them to?
One place I always take my friends from out of town to is Sidewall Pizza, they have the best pizza here.
Q: If you had a free day with no plans, what would you do? Or where can we find you on the weekends?
I would usually go hang out with my friends or my Girlfriend when she is in town. We will usually either go to Greenville and hang out or work on one of our cars in our garage shop.
Q: If you were cast into a major motion picture and had your choice of anyone to be your co-star, who would you choose?
Tom Cruise.
Q: What is something on your bucket list?
Travel to all of the National Parks.
Q: What advice would you give to a crowd of people?
Sometimes life will throw you a curve ball or try to derail you, but you have to stay positive and fight no matter what the situation is.
Q: Who would you like to see nominated for this project, The Faces of The Golden Strip?
Shaun Blake, founder of the MB6 foundation.
