Students who Shine: Terrain Small
MIAMI - Miami Norland High School senior Terrain Small is a young man of many words.
You see, poems are his thing, and standing in front of his class he recites one of his latest.
"I mean, maybe I am a little hood or maybe I am educated and just misunderstood," he recites.
That's just a snippet of words that resonate with Terrain and his peers.
Teachers, staff, and the front office at Miami Senior Norland High have certainly noticed.
Rhonda Gaines-Miller, Miami Senior Norland's principal said, "Terrain is a student that does not fit in. He's a student that stands out. He is Mr. Norland."
Gaines-Miller isn't kidding.
The 18-year-old senior is really known as "Mr. Norland", who stands out on many levels and not just because he's impeccably dressed.
The day CBS News Miami met him, he was wearing a suit and tie.
Collectively, the school sees him as a perfect role model for other young men.
"On a daily basis, you'll see him outside my window, training, the other young man who were coming up," Gaines-Miller said.
Terrain is the president of the "Kings of Glory", a mentoring and community service group.
One of Terrain's mentors is Dr. Elicel Similien and teacher and Terrain's advisor.
He took notice of a young man who isn't afraid to speak up and speak out.
"If he feels like students are not advocating for themselves, I feel like he is someone who knows the right platform, and who to go to address certain issues," said Similien.
"So as a leader, he is very confident. he's very bold."
Terrain is a sergeant at arms for the key club which builds character, develops leadership skills, and gets involved in the community.
And good grades have long been a focus and a self-imposed must.
"Once I start something, I have to do it to my full extent. I have to be great at what I do. I'm not very complacent when it comes to my grades, I want to excel and be good in school. I like A's and B's, well, these are all right, but I want straight A's," he said.
Terrain has earned a 4.69 GPA.
He's considered a leader through the halls at Miami Senior Norland High School.
His young mind is like a sponge – soaking up knowledge and experiences.
He is a student who shines through the written and oral word.
Here is an excerpt from one of Terrain's poems: "You are works from an angel from above. So be proud of your naps, because I sure am. It may not seem like it all the time, but under that amazing black skin and beautiful hair is all a part of God's plan. thank you".
