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Marcus Key, 404-413-1392
University Relations
ATLANTA – By the time Lydia Smith graduated from high school, she was already a proven leader. She had served as president of her high school’s Future Business Leaders of America chapter; administrative officer of her school’s Navy JROTC Program and was selected to take part in Georgia State’s inaugural Justice Benham Law Camp, a program named after Georgia Supreme Court Justice Robert Benham that aims to increase the number of African-American lawyers and judges.
“I’ve always known I wanted to be a lawyer,” Smith said. “So with that experience I was able to gain wisdom that helped me become a better leader today.”
Now, the sophomore at Georgia State is continuing her leadership. This semester, she’s serving as philanthropy chair of GSU’s Rialto Ambassador Program. In her role as chair, she coordinates all the Rialto Center for the Arts’ service events and initiatives, including an education initiative that sends artists performing at the Rialto to area high schools to educate students about the performing arts.
“I think that everybody has a connection to the arts, so it’s very important to reach out the youth at that pivotal age, and become a good role model to them so they can physically see, and not just hear, the opportunities that are available to them.”
Smith, a public policy major with a concentration in non-profit leadership, also serves in numerous other campus organizations, including Alpha Lambda Freshman Honor Society, the First Year Residential Experience Mentor Program and the Student Alumni Association, which she co-founded this past spring. Currently, the Student Alumni Association is the largest student organization on campus.
“It just seemed interesting,” Smith said, “the whole idea of connecting students to alumni while still in college. I didn’t think it would grow to this magnitude when it first started, but in the end you get to see your hard work come into reality. Plus I like knowing that I'm making Georgia State a better place with my involvement on campus.”
The Student Alumni Association’s mission consists of integrating traditional student programs with GSU alumni for networking opportunities. Smith is the association’s director of Campus and Community Events and plans, coordinates and markets community service events for the university as a whole. Some of the major events include GSU's Homecoming canned food drive and Relay for Life.
A personal highlight for Smith came this semester when she won the Parent’s Association Scholarship. Her parents are active members of Georgia State’s Parent’s Association and play an essential role in Smith’s success. She credits all of her accomplishments to them.
“My parents are the sheer reason I chose Georgia State,” she said. “They sacrificed a lot for me to have the opportunities I have, and without them being involved parents, I wouldn’t be where I am now. They kept drilling in my head ‘GSU is the school for you, you could make a big difference there,’ so that helped with my decision.”
After finishing her undergraduate studies, Smith plans on continuing her education at Georgia State’s College of Law – she has ambitions of becoming a criminal defense lawyer. Ultimately, her dream is to open a non-profit law firm geared toward providing legal counseling and assistance to inner-city youth.
Nov. 21, 2011