Tyshaun Smith celebrated his 19th birthday Wednesday, five months after the birth of his son and nearly two years after his mom was murdered in their home in St. Paul.

“I think she’d probably be here right now annoying me,” Smith said with laughter.

He smiled as he explained that every birthday his mom would wake him up by jumping on his bed, singing “Happy Birthday.”

The Minnesota Trades Academy program held a graduation ceremony Thursday in Little Canada at the Finishing Trade Institute for interns who’d completed an eight-week program introducing them to a variety of career paths.

Smith, alongside 49 other 16- to 21-year-olds, was one of the graduates.

“It really brought a lot to me and it’s really helping me out in life,” Smith said.

The Trades Academy’s program is a paid internship that operates in the summer educating youth at different union training centers and high schools in the Twin Cities, giving them a taste of careers from carpentry to roofing, bricklaying and more.

The Trades Academy has partnered with the St. Paul Police Department to recruit interns for the program since 2016, and Officer Jim Lee joined last year in pursuit of helping youth thrive and discover options outside of higher education.

“I get the pleasure of being a part of students’ lives and helping them navigate through their teenage years, in some cases young adults,” Lee said.

Met at hospital

Growing up in St. Paul, Lee said his family experienced poverty and that drove him to want to help others who’ve experienced hardship break out of traumatic cycles.

Lee met Smith at the hospital on the day Smith’s son was born. Lee’s field partner connected with the child’s mother after meeting her at Humboldt high school. Lee joined her visiting during the birth and met Smith in the hospital lobby. He told Smith about the academy and promised that if he pursued it, he could model a healthy lifestyle for his son.

“I told him, your life changes today, everything changes today,” Lee said.

It wasn’t until later that day that Lee learned from his partner and co-workers about the murder of Smith’s mother.

Smith’s mother, Lashonda Nix, was shot in the head through the window of her home in St. Paul by Curtrez Darale Johnson on Dec. 19, 2022. Johnson’s alleged motive was retaliation for the nonfatal shooting of his son days prior in the same home. Johnson was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 35 years in prison in Ramsey County District Court last summer.

“I’ve just been trying to get through it,” Smith said.

After meeting Lee, Smith said he wasn’t sure that he trusted him. He said he didn’t think trade academies were still a thing, but Lee stayed true to his word and Smith took advantage of the opportunity to learn and do hands-on work.

“The reason that I really did it is because I didn’t want him [his son] to grow up and go through the things I went through,” Smith said.

Moving forward

Tyshaun Smith, center, talks with classmates before a MN Trades Academy achievement ceremony at the Finishing Trades Institute of the Upper Midwest in Little Canada on Thursday, Aug. 15. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)

In the past, Smith said he was focused on trying to make money quickly and made choices that got him into trouble and caused his family to worry. The Trade Academy gave him an opportunity to make different choices for his future.

“I turned my life around from what I had been doing,” Smith said.

Smith said his mother’s death has played a big part in his life, and when he thinks about her he likes to spend time with his son or play basketball and clear his mind.

“You’ve just got to take one day at a time, push through it, keep trying and make something great out of it,” Smith said.

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Lee said he was going to miss Smith after graduation. He said Smith has been an inspiration to him and he’s witnessed his growth through the program, as Lee showed up every day to support and encourage the young interns.

“He knows that if he calls me I’m going to always pick up,” Lee said.

Smith said Lee is like an older brother to him, and reminds him of both his mom and older brother because Lee is hard on him the way they have been, championing his success.

Smith plans to apply his learning and pursue carpentry, roof laying or painting.

“If you do get into trades, don’t just quit automatically, go through it, push through it, see if you like it … and push with your dream,” Smith said.