Johnpaul Smith - The Gleaner Grew Me

The Gleaner Grew Me: Like father, like son - 'Acting like dad' stimulated 17-y-o Johnpaul's interest in paper

Joerio Scott, Youthlink Writer

Badminton captain of the Wolmer's Boys' School and violinist in the Immaculate Conception High School Symphony Orchestra 17-year-old Johnpaul Smith is a bit of an odd character when he pulls out his Gleaner around friends.

Undaunted by the interrogating stares, Smith refers to himself as a 'Gleaner Baby'.

"My father would take my younger brother and I to the movies on Fridays; we would be sure to read the Entertainment section of The Gleaner to decide which movie to watch. Entertainment became the important section for me. I liked the comics I would also get in that section."

LIKE FATHER, LIKE SON

Children living what they learn also saw Smith's interest in the paper growing.

Smith told The Gleaner, "It was nice on a Sunday when the house atmosphere was more relaxed. My dad would read The Sunday Gleaner … . I would read the comics trying to act like him. As I got older, my interest shifted to the Business section."

The violinist says the ease of accessing The Gleaner in supermarkets or by roadside vendors is what sweetens the deal.

"The Gleaner is in a class of its own as it relates to print media because of its informative articles and because it often gives exclusive information, even in its tabloid, The Star."

As Smith recounted his early years of high school, he remembered being flocked by schoolmates as they would try to share his Youthlink. Smith remembered how wit and quick thinking allowed him to read in solitude.

"Sometimes I would turn into this environmentalist and say I am going to recycle the paper … when I actually wanted to read it without hovering eyes."