From taking all honors and dual credit courses to playing on two varsity sports teams, he has pursued academic and athletic excellence the past four years with one goal in mind: To one day be a college student-athlete.

And he's been doing more than just chasing a dream all these years, he's been fulfilling a promise.

Crim, the son of Steven Crim, is the Paducah Bank Teen of the Week.

Each Monday in the online edition and Tuesday in the print edition, The Sun features a teen selected from nominees submitted by guidance counselors throughout the region. Near the end of the school year, one of the students profiled will be named Teen of the Year and receive a $5,000 scholarship. An additional student will be chosen for an Inspiration Award and a $1,000 scholarship.

When he was just 9 years old, Crim's mother, April, passed away after a long battle with breast cancer.

"Everything happened so fast," he said. "I remember that monitor started beeping loudly, and nurses rushed in. They tried to get my brother and me to leave the room, but we stayed. We held her hand as CPR was given, and she was put on life support."

For about two hours after that, Crim said his mother was able to squeeze their hands, but she never regained consciousness. She passed away two days later.

Although his mother was gone, Crim held on to her memory, remembering how she never missed a game and had always been his number one supporter. He also remembered her emphasis on the importance of education.

"As a social worker, she helped many students with learning disabilities and rough home lives through difficult situations," he said. "She was always happy, always trustworthy, and she passed along those traits to me. She made me do extra reading outside of the classroom so that I would be ahead, and I never dreaded homework because she made learning together special."

His mother laid the foundation for his college plans.

"When her cancer returned for a second time, and I knew she would not be able to survive, I made a promise to her that I would fulfill our dream," he said. "I told her I would pursue academic and athletic excellence and be a college student-athlete."

This year, on the anniversary of his mother's death, Crim made good on that promise and committed to playing baseball and continue his academic career at Eastern Illinois University.

Crim said his mother also helped shape him into the leader he is today.

"I have been elected to represent my class on the student council, a role I take very seriously," he said. "I am trusted to be a voice for the many voices in my class. As a leader of the Pep Club, I inspire school spirit and show support for those invested in school activities. On the playing field, I have shown leadership in baseball and football. I have been elected captain of both teams."

His dedication to baseball and football has been recognized as a member of the all-district (4 years), all-Purchase (3 years) and all-region (1 year) teams.

He received the 2017 Leadership Award for the football team as a sophomore, signifying exceptional character and selflessness. He has also been involved in leadership within the community, participating in the George Wilson Foundation Camp for two years.

"Just as my mother instilled the importance of work ethic and strength of character in me, I want to do the same in tomorrow's academic and athletic leaders," he said.

Crim aspires to one day be a physical therapist, a field that will allow him to help those in need or in pain rehabilitate and become even stronger, healthier and better equipped to face life. He wants to study kinesiology in college to help prepare for his career goal.

"God is the one that has allowed me to have all of these opportunities throughout high school and life," he said. "Despite the struggles I've been through, he's still the one I look to. My mom always used to say, 'If God brings you to it, he'll see you through it.' That was always what we lived by."