The new year holds changes for every student at North Atlanta, whether it is classes, friends, or even schools. Transfers aren’t anything new to the Dubs who attend a school with over two thousand students, but having some of their favorite athletes make the transfer to college early isn’t an easy adjustment, to say the least.
Graduating early can be life-changing, affecting everything from friendships to careers. Former NAHS athletes who graduated early this year were Grant Thompson, Tobi Adewoyin, and Chase Linton, who are going to Southern Illinois University, Ball State University, and the University of Georgia, respectively. They will continue their greatness as they play ball in college and in a few years, we will see them under the lights on Saturdays, rather than Fridays. However, the things they will miss out on here will still resonate with them as they wake up early and go to sleep late living their college life. “Walking across the stage with the friends I have grown up with for all these years is something I looked forward to,” Thompson said, “but I will enjoy watching them reach that goal just as much as I would if I was with them.”
As much as these men would want to walk across the stage together in May, they all have more important aspirations for that time of the year. Our retired Dubs will be entering the harsh reality of spring practice with the “big boys.” Things will change as they strap up to go against some of the best. That sure will be a big change for Chase Linton. Instead of beating down every offensive lineman, he will have some of the best in the country giving him a tough fight. “One thing I will miss most is being the biggest and fastest at all times,” Linton said. “These boys are built differently and all they want to do is eat!”
Tobi Adewoyin will be seeing different food on the table as well from now on. Instead of enjoying his meals with an ice-cold Powerade, he will be trying his best to stay warm with a hot chocolate as his beverage. The weather up in Indiana isn’t anything to take lightly, especially after coming from a state like Georgia where it could be 60 degrees in the middle of December. “The biggest change for me is this weather man!” Adewoyin said. “Walking to class feels like I am fighting through the wind that is trying to take me back to Georgia.”
With all of these factors in mind, these athletes should show no remorse as they are supported and encouraged to follow their dreams. We are sure to see these remembered Dubs doing great things in the future and aspire to watch them make unbelievable plays on Saturdays, rather than Fridays.
