Lancaster Bible College alumnus Tyler Smith (’16) has a pretty sweet summer gig as a ball boy for the Major League Baseball’s Baltimore Orioles. During the school year, Smith, who earned bachelor’s degree in Health & Physical education, teaches these subjects at Northern Elementary School and Dillsburg Elementary School in York, Pa., for kindergarten through fifth-grade students.

But when school’s out, he heads to Baltimore to cheer on his favorite MLB team from the sidelines as a ball boy. A former baseball player for the Chargers, Smith is no stranger to the sport.

While Smith loves spending his summers working as a ball boy, he’s equally as passionate about teaching his students the importance of health and sports to his young students. “I love being able to teach character through sports and activities,” said Smith of his 9-to-5 job. “Principles such as collaboration and lifelong fitness are really important to me.”

He also credits his education at LBC with instilling him a love of life-long learning and inspiring his students. “LBC stressed teaching not just for the grade, but rather giving the kids the tools to be successful outside of the classroom or gymnasium,” he said.  “We were taught how to implement biblical principles [into our teaching], like perseverance – even if we weren’t in a Christian school.”