Bryzinn Smith (right), a sophomore at Ozark Catholic Academy, is expanding her horizons by training to become a volunteer firefighter and establishing a drumline at her school. (Courtesy Bryzinn Smith)
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Dropping a beat or fighting fires, sophomore taking leadership role

Softspoken and introspective, Bryzinn Smith may make a quiet first impression. But spend some time getting to know this young woman and she also makes quite the impression. 

A sophomore at Ozark Catholic Academy, Smith made the difficult choice after graduating from Trinity Catholic High School in Fort Smith in 2023, to attend a Catholic high school more than an hour away from her home in Van Buren. 

She admits that it isn’t always easy, since she wakes up as early as 4:20 a.m. to get ready and meet the shuttle that she, her younger sister Brylee and five other students ride from Immaculate Conception to Tontitown where OCA is located.

Smith, daughter of Dan and Mia Smith, longtime parishioners of Immaculate Conception Church in Fort Smith, said this year she has learned to be more independent and is now serving in a leadership role as a prefect for the House of the Mountain.

This kind of determination has helped in equal measure in her other endeavors. Smith started a drumline club this year so she and other musical students could pave the way for the school to introduce more music programs.

“Drumming is such a big part of my life,” Smith said. “I wanted to make it available for other students.”

That enterprising spirit prompted Smith and her dad to drive to Indiana this summer and buy an old drumline set from a high school that was upgrading their drums. They returned with five snares, two quads and four bass drums and donated them to the school. 

Smith’s drum instructor, Don Martin, a former drummer for pop country star Carrie Underwood, helped the Smiths refurbish the drums: tuning them, replacing the heads and getting them in working order for the school year.

“I have been her instructor for four years since she started percussion at Trinity, but she has progressed because once she decides to do something, she is going to be committed,” he said. “Finding that complete drumline set couldn’t have been any better for her or the school.”

“I was surprised to see how many people signed up for the club,” Smith admitted. “It was hard trying to figure out how to teach it, but everyone has been willing to learn, and I am grateful to be able to get it started.”

Smith said her goal for the drumline is to debut at the school’s basketball Colors Day Game Jan. 24. She also hopes to play at pep rallies and home games in the future. 

Beyond the school day, Smith, who turns 16 Jan. 23, is also pushing her boundaries by training to become a volunteer firefighter for Crawford County District 5 Fire Department. She said she started thinking about it because her dad is a volunteer firefighter and her grandfather is a forest ranger.

“My dad would go on calls, and I wanted to know how I could help,” Smith said. 

With that inspiration, she attended a board meeting in October, spoke with the fire chief, and is now taking the necessary classes each month.

While it could have been unnerving for some, being the youngest trainee and one of only three women in the department has not derailed her enthusiasm. Smith said she has learned so much already, but she is training until she is 18 years old and then she will be able to go on calls. 

“Already I have learned to cut open a car, pull hoses and learned to draft and pull water from a source,” she said.

Smith, a 4.0 GPA student, also has an unexpected penchant for Latin, currently a favorite class of hers.

“I really enjoy that I can attend a Latin Mass and understand it now,” she said. 

Beyond this, Smith said she also writes music and is trying to teach herself guitar. This year she is also adding archery to her list. 

“It will be my first time to try a school sport,” she said excitedly. 

Alesia Schaefer

Alesia Schaefer has been an Arkansas Catholic reporter and columnist from Northwest Arkansas for more than 10 years. A member of St. Vincent de Paul Church in Rogers, she works as admissions director and cross country coach at Ozark Catholic Academy in Tontitown.

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