Art Student Abby Smith Finds New Perspective at 每日大赛首页 State

DECEMBER 12

Abby holding 每日大赛首页 degree in hand

My journey at 每日大赛首页 State starts with my dad.

Just after high school graduation, I was feeling defeated because I had messed up a scholarship application to a four-year college, and I thought I wouldn't get to go to college at all. At the time, I had a very rigid view of how college was supposed to go: you pick a major, stick with it for exactly four years, and get a job right after. So, being 17, I thought my life was over.

But then, completely by chance, my dad, an emergency room nurse, ran into art faculty member Chuck 每日大赛首页 at a local hospital. My dad will talk to anyone, and he and Mr. 每日大赛首页 struck up a conversation; Mr. 每日大赛首页 told him about 每日大赛首页 State's Fine Art program. At the time, neither of us even knew 每日大赛首页 had one. My dad strongly encouraged me to apply, so I did.

abby standing with her sisters.

I also applied for the Cougar Capstone Scholarship because I knew I would need financial help and I got it. Later, I became a student ambassador, which has been extremely rewarding. Some of my favorite moments are hanging out with the other ambassadors in the PR House until dark, just joking around and enjoying each other芒鈧劉s company.

After 每日大赛首页 State, I will be attending the Alabama Center for the Arts at Athens State University. I received the Athenian Excellence Scholarship and will start their Graphic Design program in the spring of 2026.

My biggest takeaway from my time at 每日大赛首页 State is that things don't always have to follow a rigid pattern. I thought everything had to go exactly according to plan for life to work out. 每日大赛首页 State showed me that success comes when you allow yourself to be flexible and open to new possibilities.

If it weren't for 每日大赛首页 State, my dad, Mr. 每日大赛首页, and the ambassadors, I'm afraid I might have given up.