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Kasmin Holt, a member of the Class of
2008, delivered the student speech at Smith College’s Ivy Day celebration
on Saturday, May 17.
Good morning. My name is Kasmin Holt, and I am
member of the Class of 2008. I am honored to have this chance to thank you all --
because without your continued support and dedication to Smith, I would never have
been given this wonderful opportunity: to be a Smithie.
When I entered Smith in fall of 2004, I never imagined
that I -- the girl who until her junior year was terrified to speak in class -- would
be standing here in front of you expressing my gratitude. But, here I am -- so
this is what my adviser and my mother would call growth. Allow me to share
some of my story, and why I appreciate your generosity and the Smith experience.
To my surprise, my first year, I was chosen to be an “I
am Smith” woman, who is featured on the front page of the Smith Web site. This
was shocking because I was at a major crossroad, similar to many first years: deciding
if Smith was the right fit for me, or if I should reconsider my undergrad experience
and return to D.C., where I felt secure and assured.
Recalling your first semester at Smith, there are a
range of emotions that one experiences; did I make the right choice? Who am I? What
is, or what will be my role at my new home?
However, as a senior, I now realize that constant questioning
and reflecting, is what makes me a Smithie. To me, Smithies are strong, inquisitive,
passionate, dedicated, and always persevere. Luckily, I was placed with the best
pre-major adviser, Gary Lehring -- or “the Gary” -- as I call
him, who eventually became my major adviser in the government department. He told
me that I would succeed in spite of adversity, and standing here today I know he
was correct...yet again. As Smithies, we are fierce fighters, who can deal with
anything, yet remain true to our values.
I will never forget my first day of classes. I was
so nervous; girls were using words that I felt were above and beyond my grasp, yet
I made it through. You might be thinking, what is this girl talking about? I,
like many of my closest friends during my first year, felt ill-prepared because of
my previous education experiences.
Unlike many students in my classes, I attended public
school -- and not a public school that was similar to a private school -- but
a public school where we did not always have enough textbooks for the students; however,
I was blessed to have teachers who continued to push me, almost as I hard as I pushed
myself.
Since I was little, I was determined to attend Spelman
College or Howard University, historically black colleges and universities. I
had always been under the impression that this experience would complete me.
Yet in my junior year of high school, I received the
Smith Book Award, and decided to give Smith a look. I participated in Discovery
Weekend and fell in love with the idea of Smith, in spite of the cold and rainy weather. I
decided to take the big plunge and accept Smith’s offer to become part of the
Class of 2008.
As you can imagine, my first semester -- well
year even -- was about adjusting. However, I found my niche and was able
to take classes with professors who had a serious interest in my success. With my
adviser and some of my other professors, I was able to express my fears and concerns,
and yet, in spite of these fears, I was consistently offered support, which I feel
I would have not received at another institution. As a matter of fact, my best
friend, who attends Spelman, remains envious of my relationships with my professors.
So why should you -- actually, why should
we all -- continue to give money to Smith? By making a donation, as a
collective, we are giving students who most likely would have not had the opportunity
to attend such an inspiring school, a chance. As cliché as it might sound,
this chance will open doors, challenge minds and ultimately contributes to personal
growth, which is priceless.
In the last four years, I have matured, have set new
goals, and acquired a greater understanding of life. Smith has been a challenge.
From Latin American History with Professor Candelario to my never-ending battle with
Statistics, my Smith experience was a good challenge, in spite of the tears, hair
loss and academic stress.
As you all know, at Smith you can learn and take risks
in a safe environment, and with world we live in today, feeling secure should never
be taken for granted.
I’ll share with you the reasons why I give back.
Whether 19 or 99, all Smithies are fiery, and it’s beautiful! Giving back,
helps guarantee a continuation of that fire. Our passion for living, learning, and
fighting for change are incomparable. Where else do the professors encourage controversial
and passionate dialogue, and push you to venture into the unknown and truly embrace
the liberal arts? The answer for me is Smith.
As one who is about to join you as an alumna, I know
that without this experience, I would never have such diverse life experiences and
perspectives. Smith has also forced me to speak up, in a respectful, educated, and
passionate manner, and to feel confident. So please, join me in continuing
to support Smith because we all benefit from having women who are zealous, and who
are willing to take risks and make mistakes. In giving back, we ensure that future
women will be equipped to continue to fight for truth and not be afraid to question.
After all, Smithies are leaders.
Personally, I want thank you. This has been an
amazing experience for me.
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