“Our football program is small, yet it's hard-working and fearless at its core,” said Ken Lathan, the head coach of the Carrboro High School football team.

“I wanted to be a mentor and motivator. I like to inspire people to do things that others, and sometimes themselves, don’t think they can do,” Coach Lathan said. “I also love to see young people work together for a common goal. Watching their confidence grow over time helps not only on the football field, but in life.” Lathan was a former assistant to the head coach student manager at the University of South Carolina.

Special Teams Coach Fred Dale congratulates Jake Adams, a junior on the Carrboro High School football team, and gives him a special GS Necklace, short for “Goon Squad,” that Dale made to give to his players whenever they complete a special teams play.

“I would describe this team as blue collar. They have learned over the years of playing that there are no shortcuts to success on and off the field. You have to work harder than your opponents, day in and day out,” Coach Lathan said.

The 33 players and seven coaches that comprise the team all squeeze into one men's locker room in order to discuss the plays they want to perform during the games. Jevontay Paisant, a freshman on the team, listens to the coaches as they prepare for an upcoming game.

"We all we got...We all we need,” Coach Lathan explained the team’s motto. “This is something that we take with us into every practice and game, and it has paid off in our success.” Jamaal Purefoy-Thaxton, a freshman on the team, along with his teammates push against a football sled during practice.

“We are a little similar to other sports here at CHS,” said Lathan when describing his team. “We work really hard to be competitive and when we play as a team, we are hard to beat." Senior Tim Rogers-Neal stretches before Carrboro High School’s homecoming game against Graham High School.

“We have fun, but they know when it’s time to work, we work. My coaches and team are an easy-going bunch of jokesters, so we have to do a great job keeping a balance of work and play,” said Coach Lathan.

Junior Phoenix Tudryn holds up a sign advertising the team’s fundraising car wash. “Compared to bigger schools and programs, we do not get a lot of funding, but I think we do a good job of maximizing what we do get to better our program as a whole. What we don’t have, we work for through fundraising,” said Lathan during their team’s Carrboro High School Car Wash event.

At most high schools, players do not have to worry about keeping up the fields they play on. Instead, there are usually people hired to prepare them before every game. However, for Carrboro High School, the players and coaches have to make sure the fields are ready for their games. It has become a tradition for the seniors to paint the fields before every home. In addition, they must help set up field markers and put up goal post paddings. “I used to look forward to when I would be able to help paint the field before games, but honestly, it just gives me less time to prep before we have to head out,” said Braden Hunter, a senior at Carrboro High School.

Senior, Braden Hunter holds the American Flag as he and his team get ready to storm the field, a tradition the team performs before every home game. Walking past the team are members of the opposing team, the Graham High School Red Devils.

“I want my players to be champions in everything that they do,” said Coach Lathan. “Being a champion does not necessarily mean that you win at everything. It means that you gave your best and you helped someone else along the way.” Luke Adams is tackled by Graham High School's defensive line as he completes a pass for the Jags during Carrboro High School’s homecoming game.

During each huddle, the team shouts, “Say what you mean and mean what you say!” Je'Sean Barkley screams with the team as they hype each other up before their game.

Coach Lathan leads a prayer with players from both football teams after Carrboro beat Graham High School, 22-0. “I have built this program on three simple principles... God before all, team before me, and be the best that I can be,” Lathan said. “If they can live by that, I have done my job as a coach, and we all can be champions.

The Triangle Korean School is a Korean school located in Raleigh, NC that kids from all over the Triangle come to learn Korean. The school session is from 9:30am to 12:30pm.

The age range of kids who go to this school are from five to nine. The kids are split into different classes based on age.

John Min, a senior at UNC, spends his Saturday’s teaching young Korean American kids Korean and Korean culture.

“So we go in the morning around 8:30am, and we get there around 9am. And then what I do is I print the material and set up the room because they do it at a church that’s not theirs. And then I just wait for all the kids to come,” said Min.

Halfway through their session, Lee Jiwoo is captured as her class goes over homework. For this particular session Min accidentally assigned too much homework to the kids, so they were tired during class.

“They don’t take off their shoes at any point because it’s a White church,” said Min.

It’s an interesting concept, the idea that a Korean school does not take their shoes off inside. However, because the school rents a space in primarily White church, they do not take off their shoes.

“I’ll just use a workbook to teach them,” said Min.

Min is covering the mouth of Sukjoon Lee while Sehyun Park is trying to recite workbook answers in Korean. Lee’s mouth is being covered because he kept trying to say the answers. Meanwhile, Kayleigh Kim is trying to pry Min’s hand off of Lee’s mouth.

“The girls are really good. The guys, no,” said Min in response to the behavior of the kids.

“The reason I teach is because other kids were born here. They are familiar with American culture because of their elementary schools, but a lot Korean parents bring their children here to learn Korean culture. So as an older person, I think it’s my duty to help teach them,” said Min as he lines up his kids to go outside.

“Around halfway, we’ll have snack time and outside time,” said Min.

Min is captured pushing ChaeEun Jin on the swings with JiWoo Lee.

“I think he’s funny and cute,” said JeongYun Ham as she grasps onto her teacher, John Min’s, wrist.

Parents come back to the church to pick up their kids after school. There is a mixture of parents who are Korean, Korean American, and other races.

“It ends at 12:30pm, but I usually stay until 1pm to clean up everything,” said Min as he vacuums after the day’s session is over.