Cadyn Smithson has always dreamed of becoming an author or a journalist of some sort.
Cadyn Smithson, a senior at Switzerland County High School, has published a children's book. Photo provided.
(Vevay, Ind.) - What were you doing when you were 17-years-old?
For Cadyn Smithson, a senior at Switzerland County High School, he published a children's book entitled, Benji Goes to Bed.
Smithson has always dreamed of becoming an author or a journalist of some sort.
He came up with the idea for his book while helping out at Jeff-Craig Elementary School and seeing kindergarten students go through their daily routine.
"I was talking with my mentor and I said maybe I can write a bedtime routine book about a teddy bear trying to find his way to bed," said Smithson.
The 24-page book is meant for children ages 0-7, and it can be found at www.amazon.com. Smithson tells Eagle Country 99.3 that all October book sales are being donated to his adopted Angel through the Angel Tree Program that helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. He adds that 50 percent of November sales will go to the same cause.
Smithson hopes to write more books, perhaps continuing the Benji series, while pursuing a college degree.
His end goal is to earn a doctorate in education and travel around to do presentations in schools about the importance of education.