by People tend to pause in their tracks when faced with major disasters. It is paralyzing to lose people you care about, especially family. It permanently alters a person. Some people gain a fresh outlook on life after going through such life-changing experiences. Some people who have survived such tragedies find newfound inspiration to not only keep going, but to succeed in whatever they do.
Introducing Carsyn Griffis, a native of Tallulah Falls who is starting her senior year of high school and is an exceptional swimmer and cross-country runner. She lost both her father and brother in four months in 2021, and she has experienced grief and suffering that few people her age can understand. Carysn’s life is still impacted by the untimely death of her father, Stan, and her 20-year-old brother, Caleb, in a terrible motorcycle accident less than two years after attending Clemson from TFS. It has altered not only what she does but also how she does it. By improving herself and those around her, she preserves their memories.
“I felt like I couldn’t go on with my life after losing my dad and brother,” Carsyn explains. I’m still going and occasionally doing better than before. They are proud of me, I know that. I hope they will always be pleased with me.
She has been trying to be the best version of herself for the past few years, honoring her father and brother in a number of ways. An introspective analysis coupled with a look back provides a bright future for Carsyn. Her brother still serves as an inspiration to her, particularly in the area of sports.A picture of Caleb, Carsyn’s brother, who was killed in a motorbike accident when he was a college student. Tallulah Falls School/Elisha Boggs
Carsyn says, “Caleb has become my greatest influence.” He put a lot of effort into every sport he participated in. He was always trying to improve. My motivation in sports has been to make Dad proud. I frequently want life would move more quickly so I can advance to the next phase, such as college. It took a significant life experience for me to grasp that tomorrow is not assured. Caleb had no regrets in life. He made the most of every moment of each day to serve others or better himself. I aspire to lead a life similar to Caleb’s. He should be proud of whatever I achieve, I hope. To the best of my ability, I continue living my life in an effort to honor him. His words, “I am proud of you,” are something I wish I could hear. He’s proud of me, I have to convince myself until then.
Caleb is credited with introducing Carsyn to cross country and was frequently spotted at the gym around four in the morning.
“He loved running and shoes,” Carsyn continues. He encouraged me to run cross-country because he wanted me to have similar interests as his. At the start of my sixth-grade cross-country season, he scribbled a sticky note on my mirror that read, “Run Fast = Cool Shoes” and “P.S. Run Fast.” To motivate myself to run like him, I now write it on my running shoes.
The message was given to Carsyn. As the Lady Indians achieved a program-best 7th-place finish at the state competition, she was a consistent member of the cross-country squad in 2023, placing third on the team with a time of 24:03, good for 56th overall. After middle school, she had put running on hold for a spell, but she only picked it up again that season. She finished third on the team at state in 2024 (54th overall), as the girls finished in seventh place once more.
“I decided to give it another chance in the summer before my sophomore year,” she adds. We were eligible to go to state. I gave the state meet my all, keeping my brother in mind the entire time. I set a personal record at the end of the race. My brother would be really proud of me, I knew.Carsyn with the sticky notes her brother Caleb left her at the beginning of her sixth-grade cross-country season. The notes are now laminated. Tallulah Falls School/Elisha Boggs
Cherish time
She has performed admirably in cross country, but her swimming skills are perhaps even superior. She was a key member of the State Championship squad from the previous year, anchoring the 200 Medley Relay team and placing third in the 500 Free and fourth in the 200 Free. The school and GIAA State Championship records are set by the 200 Medley Relay’s timing of 1:49.19 at the state level.
Relays are my favorite aspect of swimming. Competing in the relays is enjoyable because you have to cooperate with others to achieve a common objective. I enjoy listening to the applause from the audience when we’re done. Setting the school record is my best memory. We were very close to another school record as well. Another swim memory has left an impact on me. I have swam for seven years. When I reached high school, my goal was to get an individual state cut qualifying time. My freshman year, I missed the time by .01 seconds. Then came back sophomore year, ready to get that time. I had worked so hard. I not only got one state cut, I got two. That moment looking at the scoreboard is one I will never forget.
Carsyn qualified in the 100 Free and 100 Back last season. For her efforts, she earned 2nd Team All-State honors by the Georgia High School Swimming Coaches Association. The aspiring collegiate swimmer and ultimately an Occupational Therapist has learned to manage her time wisely. That discipline comes whether it s in the pool, classroom, on the course, in an FCA Huddle as a leader, or elsewhere. Time is precious to her.
Cherish time, she reminds herself. Time is something that you can never get back. I am often hit with memories, and I want to go back. It is easy to dwell on the past, but we must look towards the future.
Sometimes that means slowing life down to enjoy the fun moments. For Carsyn, she helps the swim team enjoy Fun Fridays throughout the season.
We incorporate teamwork into fun little games or competitions, she says. One year, we had to come up with a synchronized swimming routine. My team did fun little kicks and tricks. We watched other teams and their ideas. We laughed about our ideas and other teams performances. As a team, we still laugh about this memory two years later.
While Tallulah Falls has had a major impact on Carsyn, she s more than returned the favor, making memories and friends that last a lifetime.
TFS provides a family. It is a community like no other and feels like a family. I have grown friendships that have become like family. My family chose TFS for the education along with the community.
Carsyn s mom is Tamara Griffis, the head coach of the swim teams and the Student Support and Media Specialist. Caleb was a 2021 graduate, while Caden graduated in 2020. The family started the Caleb Griffis Memorial Scholarship Foundation in 2021, which awards scholarships at TFS and helps fund ROTC students who need it at Clemson University.(photo submitted)
The Memorial Foundation means carrying his legacy on, adds Carsyn. Caleb led many people to Jesus and brought joy. He could light up any room that he walked in. He was a great leader in high school as a captain of multiple teams and in ROTC as a squad leader at Clemson University. Our family wanted to help others something that Caleb loved. It means we get to share who he was with others. To award the scholarship at TFS, we look for people like him. We look for people who are leaders and work hard both in the classroom and on the courts or fields. This scholarship means the world to us and I hope it does to others. I hope people can share the same light Caleb did in this world. We hope that he is remembered forever.
Seven months following his passing, they held the first Fidelis Militus 5K on the TFS cross country course.
Caleb spent many, many hours training on this course so it seemed fitting to hold our annual 5K at his home course. The name Fidelis Militus is Latin for Faithful Soldier. This has become the foundation s motto since the beginning. Our mission statement focuses on supporting future soldiers and leaders throughout life s toughest obstacles.
Caleb certainly holds the title of Fidelis Militus Carsyn Griffis does too.
