Finding Her Place, Changing the World

For Olivia Mendoza ’27, the relationship among discovery, leadership, and belonging—the concepts at the heart of Compass 2035—became clear at Smith.

“The second I stepped foot on campus I knew that I had found my home,” she says. “Smith was the place I wanted to be.” Yet home can be a jumping-off point as much as a haven. For this rising senior from Chino Hills, California, the home she’s found at Smith marks the beginning of her path leading toward discovery.

That path recently stretched all the way to Australia, where Mendoza spent a semester getting hands-on experience in watershed protection and climate advocacy as an intern with Cate Faehrmann, a member of the Greens Party in the New South Wales Parliament.

“Life-changing” financial aid from Smith has allowed Mendoza to experience the sense of belonging she enjoys on campus and has furnished the opportunities she’s had to study and intern abroad. Perhaps most important, it’s going to give her the freedom to pursue a life of service and activism after graduation.

Belong

Mendoza, an opposite hitter for the varsity volleyball team, hadn’t heard of Smith until the recruiting process began during the summer of her sophomore year in high school. “Over the next two years, I built strong relationships with the coaching staff, who convinced me to come visit Smith my senior year.” That visit cemented Smith as her first-choice school—but it was the college’s financial aid package that made the decision possible.

Without that support, says Mendoza, “I would have gone to community college and then transferred. I’m not saying that’s a bad route, but my biggest dream was always to attend a four-year college right out of high school.”

The athletics community at Smith was a revelation for Mendoza. “Everyone in the department goes above and beyond to create a competitive atmosphere that’s genuinely fun,” she explains.

That mix of competition and fun has led to major successes for several Bears teams, including the volleyball team’s journey to their first NEWMAC (New England Women’s and Men’s Athletic Conference) championship title since 2005. Mendoza’s team also made it to the second round of the NCAA Division III Tournament—the furthest in Smith volleyball history. “Winning was a testament to the years of hard work everyone’s been putting into the program,” says Mendoza.

Hard work isn’t the only thing tying Smith’s student-athletes together. Demonstrating just how tight-knit the broader athletics community is, Mendoza’s favorite spot on campus isn’t Paradise Pond or the Neilson Library—it’s the stands in Ainsworth Gymnasium, where she and fellow opposite hitter Mia Etheridge “cheer for the Bears basketball team in our striped overalls.”

Discover

The memorable aspects of Mendoza’s experience as a varsity athlete—hard work, unbridled enthusiasm, and mutual support—also characterize her academic experience at Smith. She especially appreciates how easy it’s been to make friends outside of sports “because of our small class sizes and how welcoming the professors and other students are.”

Mendoza singles out Alexander Barron, associate professor of Environmental Science and Policy (ES&P), and Gregory de Wet, assistant professor of geosciences, for special praise. “They both foster an environment where it’s safe for students to learn, make mistakes, and try again,” she says. “They ask students to apply knowledge to life outside of the classroom, so it stays with you even after the semester is over.”

Lead

Mendoza is clearly oriented toward the real-world application of learning. An ES&P major with a minor in geosciences and an interest in policymaking, she has taken numerous opportunities to put her analytical, writing, and advocacy skills to work on behalf of local communities and the environment. Through the NOAA College-Supported Internship Program, for example, she monitored the effects of rising sea levels on tidal marsh swamps at a research reserve in Oregon—and simultaneously worked as a camp counselor for local kids. “It was awesome to gain experience in the field, learn about the ecological benefits that marshes bring to coastal communities, and share what I was learning with young people,” she recalls.

Inspired by the NOAA experience, Mendoza is working on a waterway closer to home this summer. Thanks to Smith’s Praxis funding—which provides students between $1,500 and $4,500 to cover costs associated with an unpaid internship—Mendoza is currently interning with Los Angeles Waterkeeper (LAW), an environmental nonprofit focused on restoring the L.A. River.

Mendoza’s role with LAW combines her passion for environmental activism and outreach with her interest in policy: Along with research and legislation tracking, she is helping run community-based events like water quality testing and beach cleanups. “These events are aimed at getting youth and others from underserved communities in L.A. more involved in sustainability and advocacy.”

Give Back

When asked what she finds so powerful about Smith, Mendoza cites a blend of encouragement, challenge, and material resources—cornerstones of Compass 2035. In her words:

Mendoza’s childhood vision of her future—where she would help strengthen communities and create sustainable change—still feels within reach. “That kind of service feels possible because I won’t have a huge burden of student debt. I can start from a clean slate after graduation.”

Addressing the donors who have made that possible, she says: “You are changing someone’s life. The support I’ve found at Smith is something I wish for every person in this world.” Mendoza is not only wishing for that future, but planning for it. Her goal is “give back to the community that has made me stand out in the world, so that others can shine.”