Marissa Smith has participated in seven mission trips, each causing her to view her world a little differently. Whether working in a homeless shelter in New Orleans or teaching English to children in the Dominican Republic, the Indian Creek senior embraces every experience.
“In the last six years, our church has been able to go on seven mission trips,” said Smith, whose family attends First Christian Church of Morgantown. “It shows you what your purpose is and being able to serve others.”
Smith, who is Indian Creek’s valedictorian with a 4.62 grade-point average, is using her commencement speech to encourage classmates to find their purpose in the years ahead. Doing so will lead to lead to contentment, Smith believes.
“I went on my first mission trip the simmer before my eighth-grade year. It opens your eyes to being grateful for what you have,” Smith said. “You start putting a lot less importance on what we have. You see people surviving, just barely living, and they’re so happy.
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“It puts your own life into perspective. What you think is important doesn’t necessarily become important. I was the typical middle-schooler. You think about driving an expensive car and having a perfect life. My heart would be moved when I saw people in need, but never did I have the boldness to go help them. Now that’s flipped around.”
Smith will attend IUPUI and major in neuroscience.
“It’s the interdisciplinary study between biology and psychology,” she said. “It’s the brain and just the neuro networks and how that overall impacts who you are. I’ve always been interested in psychology. It’s just fascinating to me.”
Smith started attending First Christian Church of Morgantown 10 years ago, which is the same time Kyle Siegfred became the church’s youth minister. Siegfred notes how Smith taught herself to play guitar, stopped playing basketball after her freshman season to focus more on academics and is a positive influence for whoever she comes in contact with.
“Just anything she’s asked to do she does with excellence,” Siegfred said. “Marissa doesn’t back down from any challenge. She is a leader. If Marissa says she is going to do something, other students will follow her.”
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Name: Marissa Smith
Age: 18
Parents: Scott and Nina
Residence: Morgantown
College plans: Studying neuroscience at IUPUI
Career goals: Pursuing a degree in school psychology in hopes of working at a preschool or elementary school
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Indian Creek High School commencement
Where: Main gymnasium
When: June 1, 10 a.m.
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