How Will Smith is overcoming the unimaginable and inspiring our community.
By Weston Owen | Photos by Paul Andrews
Life is full of trials and tribulations — difficult circumstances that test our character, mental fortitude and resolve. For native Kansas Citian Will Smith, perseverance has always been a way of life, adapting and overcoming any situation he faced.
Coming from a single-parent home, Will grew up as a proud resident of “The Dotte” — Wyandotte County — and decided in eighth grade that, to set his life on the right trajectory, he would focus his energy on sports, specifically football and track. And he certainly hit his stride as a running back, excelling at Wyandotte High School and gaining attention from major universities with scholarship offers on the table.
Will was eager to be the first in his family to attend college to pursue his dreams. But during his senior year, he partially tore his Achilles tendon, dramatically limiting his options. Still, he attended Baker University and eventually transferred to Wheaton College in Chicago. He excelled as a student-athlete there, working his way up the depth chart on the football team, while also developing a strong foundation in faith.
Once he graduated with his new lease on life and diploma in hand, Will was drawn back to his hometown. “I wanted to take the opportunity to share what I’d learned in college and help my family and community overcome their own adversities,” he says.
But once Will moved back to Kansas City, he’d soon face one of his life’s greatest challenges — a car accident in March of 2021 rendered him paralyzed.
Despite his circumstances, Will always does his best to stay even-keeled, never letting his lows get too low or his highs too high while surrounding himself with friends, family and faith. His professional career has flourished, progressing through several roles at Black & Veatch, a global engineering firm headquartered in Overland Park, Kansas. Both professionally and personally, Will inspires and motivates others by sharing his story across platforms including his own social media and website, Will the Resilience Warrior.
“My body’s been places I’d never allow my mind to go. But in the end, you either fight or you quit. I’m from Wyandotte County, so you know I’ll keep fighting, whatever life throws my way.”
