#smithfund

I sat down with Greta Stacy, class of 2015, to talk to her about how her time at Smith has influenced her as a leader and a student. She gave me a great insight into what makes Smith a unique place to grow, academically and in a leadership role. 

Why Smith?

I learned about Smith in high school when I participated in a program in Oaxaca, Mexico and had a supervisor who had just completed her first year at Smith. I applied a year later and chose Smith because of the excellent financial support and overall value of the education. Looking back now, it was a great fit for me.

What made you get involved in Student Government Association (SGA)?

I had previous experience with student government in high school when I was Study Body President and on the Board of Trustees. Having that experience, I was excited coming to Smith and ran for Lawrence House senator my first year. There, I joined the Elections and Appointments committee, chairing it my sophomore year. I wasn't able to run for anything that spring, being the elections chair, so I waited until I returned from abroad my junior spring and ran for SGA President.

  What leadership roles on campus do you see as unique to Smith/good preparation for life after?

The challenge when working on SGA at Smith is that we, as a student body, are a community of leaders—be it formal or informal. A lot of students take on informal leadership roles and do a ton of work on campus which is vital to our community. Smith in general prepares every student to be a leader whether or not they take a formal role during their time here.  

  What designation at the Smith Fund do you feel personally connected to?

House Challenge month is here at the Senior Campaign during November! As such, I thought I would talk a little bit about my own housing situation. As a first-year at Smith I was placed in Cushing House in East Quad. My first year I was in a double on the fourth floor, sophomore and junior years I had my own single room on the second and third floor respectively. I absolutely loved it and lived there for three years and am still close to a lot friends there.

However, last year as a rising Senior I had the opportunity to live with three of my best friends in a Friedman apartment on campus. We entered the lottery system and were lucky enough to be selected. This year as a Senior I live with the same three best friends in Friedman D4, right behind Helen Hills Hills Chapel on campus.

We have four bedrooms, one bathroom, our own kitchen, pantry, and a very spacious living room. While I loved living in Cushing and having my house community, I really value the independence that living in an apartment allows me—plus, I still get to keep my friends and the house events from Cushing! It really is the best of both worlds.