Brontë

Carman-Ainsworth senior and varsity basketball player Ja'Kavien Lewis, 18, sits in a business marketing class taught by business education instructor Thomas Klee on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Carman Ainsworth High School in Flint Township. Lewis is an honor roll student who plans to attend Midland Northwood University on a full-ride scholarship for basketball in the fall. And while he is still deciding which major he plans to study he knows he wants to run a business one day. "I could make businesses to help others," Lewis said. "Having money for myself isn't really my thing, I like to take care o people and seeing people with a smile on their face."

Lewis concentrates on a worksheet in his business education class on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Carman Ainsworth High School in Flint Township. "My purpose is to really change the world," Lewis said. "I always tell people I'm going to change the world one day, and that means helping others too."

Lewis walks with a friend out of the lunchroom on Thursday, March 29, 2018 at Carman- Ainsworth High School in Flint Township. Lewis takes priority in making sure his friends and teammates always walk into school or onto the court with a smile on their faces. "You can ask anybody at school, I'm always checking on everybody making sure everybody good," Lewis said. "That's the type of person I am."

Lewis, along with his teammates, watch film in preparation to play against Clarkston High School in the Class A quarterfinals during a practice at Carman-Ainsworth High School on Thursday, March 15, 2018 in Flint Township.

From left, Lewis, who plays guard and his team captain, and Jamarreyon Houston, who also plays guard, pump each other up before the Class A quarterfinal against Clarkston at Grand Blanc High School on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Grand Blanc. "When I was younger I used to watch a lot of Monte Morris," Lewis said. "He was always talking to his teammates and talking positive at all times." He adds that's how strives to be on the court. "That's great leadership."

Deborah Lester holds her grandson, a sleeping Dylan Dudley, 1, both who are related to Lewis, during the District 9 Class A Championship game at Carman-Ainsworth High School on Friday, March 9, 2018 in Flint Township. Lewis' family has comes to every game. They are known for their presence in the stands. "That's one thing I love about my family, they come support," Lewis said. "There is like 20 people that come to my games, every single game, so that's a blessing."

Lewis drives the ball to the basket at Davison High School on Monday, March 12, 2018 in Davison. Lewis attributes his skills in basketball to having grown up in Flint. "Flint has helped me physically especially with basketball because I've had some tough times and I have played against some tough people," Lewis said. "I have had a lot of older cousins and friends that bullied me when I was little, playing with older people was very tough, so I think it saved me physically."

Lewis comforts his mother Latoya Jenkins after a loss against Clarkston High School 52-31 during the Class A boys basketball state quarterfinal at Grand Blanc High School on Tuesday, March 20, 2018 in Grand Blanc. Jenkins became pregnant with her son when she was 16. Having fear of not being able to support herself and the baby, Jenkins attempted to get an abortion three times until her parents stepped in and gave her seven days to decide if she wanted the abortion of not with their consent. "I call him my miracle child," Jenkins said. "I was so scared because my thought process was a younger kid in school, I was getting ready to graduate high school and wanted to go off to college." Jenkins decided to go through with the abortion and went to the clinic to get an ultrasound. "The third time, they put the ultrasound on and Ja'Kavien was sitting there looking at me," Jenkins said. "And something in the back of my mind at that moment was telling me to get up and don't do it. Eighteen years later I have Ja'Kavien." Jenkins told her son about his past when he was a junior in high school. "I'm not supposed to be here really so I be thanking God," Lewis said. "I'm a mama's boy, I go to my mom for everything, she's my baby and I really love her."

Lewis laughs as his cousin, Ricky Buggs, jumps on him in the basement at his family home on Friday, March 16, 2018 in Flint.

Lewis FaceTimes a friend while laying with his basketball in bed in his home on Friday, March 16, 2018 in Flint. Lewis has been playing basketball since he was two years old. But according to his mom, he's had a ball in his hand since he was one. "His first gift that was ever bought for him was a basketball," Jenkins said. "He has been playing ever since." Jenkins adds continues to sleep with the basketball, like he did when he was young. "When it falls off the bed I become a nervous wreck because I think someone is breaking-in and it's not it's the basketball bouncing on the ground."

Lewis washes his face in his home before he dives himself to his high school graduation at Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 in Flint.

Lewis closes his eyes in prayer as his mother Latoya Jenkins prays with him and his little brother Samaj Jenkins, 9, at the Church of the Harvest on Sunday, March 25, 2018 in Flint. "When I look back over my life 18 years ago when I thought it was going to be hard I didn't know God held my hand and carried me through the way," Jenkins said. "Yes it was hard but overall it was easy because I always kept a job, Ja'Kavien never lacked." She adds that her son continues to shock her. "He surprises me everyday, he has done more than I ever have."

Lewis prays with his aunt Jackie Puckett before he eats dinner while at his home on Friday, March 16, 2018 in Flint. Lewis claims when his mom introduced the Bible into his life, it changed. "When I go to church and stuff like that man I get in a different type of feeling," Lewis said. "I'm feeling like a whole new person."

Lewis celebrates as he turns his tassel from the right side of his cap to the left during his graduation ceremony at Dort Federal Credit Union Event Center on Wednesday, May 30, 2018 in Flint. "It don't stop here," Lewis said. "I know I did great in high school with school and basketball but I also want to go to Northwood and be able to get straight A's there and be in my books and do great at basketball as well."

A photo of young Lewis sits next to the obituary card of his grandmother, Thelma Lewis also known as "ReRe," on his dresser in his room on Friday, March 16, 2018 in Flint. Thelma passed away in 2016, a death that made an impression on Ja'Kavien. "I was real close to her," he said. "She always told me stuff like always wear a belt."

Lewis places his hands on his grandmother, Thelma Lewis' headstone on Sunday, May 20, 2018. "She was so helpful, she did anything for me she could, even if she couldn't even do it for me," Lewis said. "She been gone for like two years."

While reflecting about his grandma, Thelma Lewis, Ja'Kavien begins to cry while at her headstone at River Rest Cemetery on Sunday, May 20, 2018 in Flint. His last memory he has with his grandma is when she was laying in bed with him. "She was just sleeping in my bed, snoring," Lewis said. "That was my last time being with her."

Lewis walks down the sidewalk where his childhood home once stood on Martin Luther King Avenue on Tuesday, May 22, 2018 in Flint. Empty lots can be seen where many homes were burned down, including his. "There was a bunch of house," Lewis said. "Now they all gone, back when I was little it used to be so nice, these houses were nice, this block was the nicest ever, now there aren't any houses around here no more." Lewis add he is always going to come back to Flint. "For the little kids," Lewis said. "I'm going to always help out, what's what I like to do, what's what my granny did."