Is it really possible to be both laid-back and deeply driven, someone who motivates not just himself, but everyone around him? It is, and you’d have known it earlier had you met Frank Cohen.

Frank is a senior at Paint Branch and says that his friends would probably describe him as “loud, caring…and loving.” He’s known to try and motivate the people around him, especially his friends and family. It makes sense, considering he’s a dedicated student-athlete who’s been running track both for PB and outside of school since freshman year. He runs the 100m, 200m, and 400m. In fact, track is one of his favorite hobbies and valued skills, and he plans on continuing it after graduation, hopefully at Morgan State University.

He lives by a mantra, which he repeats all the time, “I look till failure because if I already failed there’s nothing to be mad about. But if I succeed it hits harder.” He says this to himself and to his friends as motivation and a sort of safety net from disappointment. He believes that attending Paint Branch for the last three years has forced him to grow as a person in many ways. He says, “from freshman year to senior year, you learn a lot of things about the building, about people, and about life.” Frank believes PB is a supportive environment that motivates its students until they graduate.  He looks forward to his growth during senior year in “every best way possible” from grades to work ethic, taking him all the way to graduation day. 

Outside of school, he actually prefers to chill in a relaxed space with music playing in the background. He’ll probably be putting on some Drake or PARTYNEXTDOOR, but it truly depends on his mood. He enjoys playing video games like Brawlhalla and Fortnite. When it comes to television, Frank isn’t too picky; as long as it’s comedy or romance, he’s in. Around school, you might catch him in his Alo sweatpants, staying comfortable during the day. If he had the chance to meet any celebrity, it’d be Usain Bolt. As a fellow track athlete, he would love to train and work out alongside him.

All in all, he’s an easy guy to talk to and a motivated student-athlete with plans already in the works post-graduation. He’s nervous but really excited for senior year!

By: Nardos Wondimu