CANEY, Okla. (KTEN) — While many students ditch the books and go on vacation after they graduate, one Caney High School senior is breaking the mold and going straight into serving her country.

In addition to leading her softball team to victory at the school's first-ever state championship, Leah Smith has embodied the spirit of courage as she prepares to  enlist in the US Air Force after graduation.

At the age of 15, Smith and her little brother Marvin were moved into foster care, where they were introduced to Michael and Kim Harkey, who took the children under their wing.

“Teenagers often get overlooked in the foster system because people don’t want teenagers. At first, it was a bit of a struggle for them to adapt to their new surroundings, but I’m proud to call them my kids," said Michael Harkey, Leah Smith's Guardian.

When Leah Smith first arrived at Caney as a sophomore, she said she was the opposite of who she is today. When she started playing softball, she began to come out of her shell.

"It was hard at first because I was trying to figure out who I was and thrust into a whole different life where I didn't know anything, but I think with being in the new surroundings and new people, it helped me see who I was," said Leah.

Initially distant, she found purpose on the softball field.

“When she came, she was so standoffish. She didn’t want to make friends, but she came out and she worked hard and worked her tail off. It’s been an impact not only on just her high school team, but all the junior high girls look up to Leah," stated the Caney Softball Assistant Coach, Jessica Crites.

From a quiet teen to spearheading the school's first softball championship, Smith has embodied the spirit of fearlessness

Upon graduation, she'll be putting the strength she learned on the diamond towards serving her country in the air force.

“She’s one of those students that we would love all of our students to be. She is just one of those leaders that kids look up to and she’s made an impact school wide," said the Caney Superintendent, Lori Delay.