Photo: feeling content and worry-free on Mountain Day 2017. PC: Jemara Sheely ‘20
Things I Learned at Smith that I Didn’t Get From a Classroom
Something I say to people a lot is that being at Smith is the thing in my life that I am the most proud of. By far. Putting aside the acceptance rate, the fact that I’m an international student, and all that other stuff, this pride comes from the fact that going here has given me the opportunity to develop into the version of myself I dreamt up as a high-schooler. Since I’m going into my 3rd and penultimate year and feeling pretty sentimental about it, I wanted to share the key things I have learned about myself that came largely from Smith’s unique culture and history.
1) It’s OK take up space.
It’s easy to tell that Smith was founded on the principle of centering education around a disadvantaged gender. For me, being at a historically women’s college and being surrounded by people in my house, classes, and clubs who don’t often have a seat at society’s metaphorical table has allowed me to know what it is to have my ideas valued. Smith does a great job and making discussion a huge part of the classroom experience, and my classes have given me the opportunity to practice sharing my opinions and thoughts with confidence and knowledge that I will be taken seriously. Of course, this also happens in “the real world,” but now I have super high standards for how I should be treated outside of the bubble, particularly in my future workplace.
2) It’s OK to explore/experiment.
The friends I have made at Smith have been amongst the most creative and curious people I know. I have found that the culture at a place like Smith, with it’s diversity and safe spaces for discussion and “half formed thoughts,” has encouraged me to question everything from larger social structures to fundamental views of the self. In an environment in which students can (and, often, must) think critically about the world, I feel empowered to take advantage of the open curriculum and explore new academic fields, as well as seek a more nuanced understanding of my own identities. Learning happens all the time here, and I love it.
3) It’s OK to be ambitious.
I never considered myself an ambitious person before coming to Smith. It was by complete chance that I even considered a school in the US, and I figured that I would go to the (pretty decent but, for me, completely uninspiring) university close to my hometown and become an average student going after an average job. But it’s hard to keep that mindset when you are surrounded by people pushing you and pushing themselves to see new heights and reach them. I consider Smithies to be pretty extraordinary to be honest, and being included in that category reminds me of all the great things I can do.
4) It’s OK to celebrate myself.
Life at Smith can be hard. The academics are no joke, and neither is the impostor syndrome that often comes with them. But the circles I move in at Smith make a point of celebrating victories of all shapes and sizes, from scraping a C in a class you thought you’d failed to winning a
. I’m lucky to be part of something where support and solidarity are valued so highly.
5) It’s OK to be authentically and enthusiastically me.
Actually, it’s more than OK. It’s important. It’s needed. It’s kinda revolutionary. Most importantly, it’s so much more fun, especially when everyone else is doing it too.
It is important to remember that Smith isn’t perfect, not by a long shot. Like any institution, it has harmful power structures, divisions, and individuals who you just don’t gel with. But as much as we are working on the things above, we are working on change. In fact, I myself feel empowered to do so by the beautiful things like those above that this place offers.
