Dillon Metoyer

At the age of four years old, Dillon Metoyer’s mother asked him to look into her eyes and tell her what he saw. He responded by saying, “I see stars,” and when asked why, he would say, “Because I’m going to be one.”

Since then, the Miami Palmetto Senior High School senior has spent his time working extremely hard toward accomplishing this goal and has taken every opportunity to do so. Whether it be through following his passion playing soccer, producing his own music or modeling for the Miami Heat, Dillon knows he can reach stardom.

Metoyer’s love for entertaining and the euphoria that he experiences from it motivates him in every project that he sets his mind to.

“When you create or do something you’re passionate about and people enjoy it and applaud you for it, it’s a great feeling,” Metoyer said. “That feeling is what makes me want to do it more.”

The intense rush he feels from entertaining became prominent at Palmetto during

Mr. Panther, an annual event

put

on by the school.

“Mr. Panther w a s really

a star in the makingmemorable for me. I touched the stage and After signing with Green Agency in then started rapping and the energy and 2010, Metoyer has had the opportunity to everything was just so amazing,” Metoyer model for Payless and the Miami Heat Vice said. Versa Collection. Metoyer remembers the

Further reminiscing on his Mr. Panther crew as extremely friendly and maintains performance, Metoyer explained that the a fond memory of the overall experience. crowd’s energy and reactions given by the “I just ended up loving it and always crowd made it one of the best nights of his having fun. I’m so passionate about it. life. Whenever I come back [from a shoot], I’m

“As the performance went on and always like ‘Mom, I had such an amazing everyone was cheering and screaming time,’ I owe her that,” Metoyer said. my name, my performance got better. His father, Fred Metoyer, believes that The energy from the crowd fueled me Dillon’s talents come from his upbringing and ultimately gave my performance and the notion that he could succeed in life,” Metoyer said. “After I got off stage, anything he works towards. I told myself that was one of the best “As a parent, trust me, we want performances of my life because of the love to describe our children as the best in and admiration I received from everyone everything. I would really have to find a for doing something I’m so passionate word to show that everything he’s exposed about.” to and genuinely interested in he excels at,”

Ever since Metoyer was little, he has Fred said. written songs and raps, but he finally Apart from modeling and creating began taking his music seriously during music, Dillon also plays the position of his freshman year of high school. Drawing right wing on the Palmetto varsity soccer inspiration from artists such as Drake and team. His mother remembers every hot, Lil Baby, Metoyer started to create his own long day spent outside watching Dillon music from home. play.

“Most of my songs are freestyle and “I remember going to the soccer fields some of them are written. I’ll be listening to and seeing what he played and burning different beats and will create a melody in under the umbrella and all that,” Mott said. my head and depending on how “I’m extra proud because when I used to it makes me feel, I’ll either change his diapers I would kick his feet freestyle or write something and say, ‘Run, Dillon, run,’ and now he’s to it. Once I have the chorus an amazing soccer player and one of the down, I’ll move on to the voices. fastest runners on the team.”

I’ll mix it and the ad libs and stuff like With his skills in modeling, rapping and that,” Metoyer said. soccer, Dillon can become a star, just as he

Dillon’s mother, Sally Mott, is the told his mom he would at the age of four reason Metoyer found a passion for years old. modeling. A former model herself, Mott “He is a diamond in the rough that no launched her son’s modeling career at the one has discovered yet, but once they do age of four. Since then, she has supported it’ll be amazing,” Mott said. all of his talents and performances.

“It’s amazing what he can do. He Sydney Campbell doesn’t need a producer; he has all his own equipment. I went out with friends the other Senior Design Editor s.campbell.thepanther@gmail.com night and by the time I had gotten home he Ella Pedroso had written and recorded this whole song Design Editor e.pedroso.thepanther@gmail.com and was like ‘Mom listen to this,’ and the talent and energy he puts into his music... PHOTO COURTESY OF GIANNA HUTTON it’s just a great feeling,” Mott said. DESIGN BY JULIA STRASIUS