Performing Arts Student Troy Weiss

Troy Weiss, wearing an effervescent smile as illuminating as his bright red sports coat, stepped confidently onto the stage at Garfield Community Learning Center with his nerves intact as 200 onlookers waited to hear him sing during the APS State of the System event on Oct. 30.

The Firestone CLC junior didn’t bother to clear his throat while caressing the microphone. He smoothly leaned into a rendition of “The Impossible Dream” – a poignant theme for the superintendent’s optimistic speech on the health of Akron Public Schools.

While Dr. Michael Robinson delivered a powerful speech that was accentuated with compelling APS success stories, Weiss delivered a powerful, uplifting performance that energized the crowd, which included teachers, administrators, school board members, parents and students.

Admittedly, Weiss was somewhat anxious in the days leading up to his performance. Even though he had performed at the APS convocation in August on the same stage, the weight of the moment seemed much heavier.

“It was super intimidating the first time at the convocation,” he said. “I’m a performing arts kid, who loves the arts, so it wasn’t my first time performing in front of that many people.

“Because the song was such an impactful thing, I was grateful to get the opportunity to minister that song into the atmosphere. To sing the theme of the APS state of the system speech was thrilling.

“It’s always good to be called back to perform before the same crowd,” he added. “I didn't have to rehearse as much because it was essentially the same people with the same stage.”

The 16-year-old Weiss, who carries a 3.5 grade point average, was encouraged to perform by his music teacher, Megan Meyer. However, his talents are rooted with his late grandmother, Rhonda Jones, who passed away a few years before his birth.

“A friend of the family told me you sound just like your grandmother,” he remembered. “No one else in my family has a background in music, so I’m grateful for my grandmother.”

Weiss’ talents far exceed his musical abilities. He’s somewhat of a renaissance man at Firestone where he performs with multiple choirs and participates in both the theater and drama programs and fashion design.

Already, he has mapped out a future in which he’s determined to navigate no matter the degree of difficulty.

Weiss, who attended Arlington Christian Academy prior to enrolling at Firestone, has committed to the Ohio National Guard. Then, he plans to enroll at Kent State University, where he’ll major in fashion and product design – a slight detour from his middle school desires of being a scientist.

“I wanted to be a scientist until about the eighth grade when I discovered I really don’t like science,” he quipped. “It was a kid’s dream.

“The culture of Firestone made me realize my love of fashion and passion for music. But my love of fashion is so much more.”

At times, he ad libs many of his vocals. Most of the time, he altered ordinary outfits so they accentuate his style and personality.

“I bought pieces of the outfit I wore (at the state of the system) from different places, including Amazon,” said Weiss, who plans to take several college courses during his senior year. “The rest of the pieces came from, well, Lord knows where.

“I really love music and singing on stage. But what I’m most passionate about is fashion design. I’ve made peace with the fact that music, maybe because of my grandmother, will always be a part of me.”