DJ Smith

What’s your favorite class? How has it expanded your knowledge?

It’s very hard to choose, but I think my favorite was Argument and Social Justice taught by Professor Mitch Reyes.

What made you want to come to Lewis & Clark?

I was recruited by Eric Jackson for football and fell in love during my recruiting visit.

How do you describe the liberal arts?

Studying the liberal arts is an opportunity to break from the traditional mold of education. I like the fact that I can do multiple things at once. I also like the fact that I will be able to do multiple things with my degree. Having the privilege of doing multiple things at once will allow me to be a critical thinker in the industry of my choosing.

Where do you find community on campus?

My loving football family, my beautiful Black people, my amazing resident advisor staff, and my significant other.

Which residence halls have you lived in? How would you describe the hall’s personality? What is/was the best thing about living on campus?

I lived in Copeland twice. Copeland is predominantly athletes and first-year students, and it is considered the party hall. I also lived in the Forest complex in Alder, which was the exact opposite. It was very quiet and relaxing. Alder is considered to be an environmental hall, which is cool to me because I love nature—such a treat to be a Galaxy Baby!

Have you been involved with one of our symposia, as an organizer or participant? What was the experience like? How did the event complement your academic experience?

Yes, I did go to a poem reading at the Gender Studies Symposium. It was a cultured experience. It gave me a lot of insight into the creativity and fantasy of wordplay, which helps me with my writing skills.

Why did you choose to play football at a DIII school? How do you balance athletics and academics?

I chose DIII because I wanted to be somewhere where I was valued and appreciated rather than weighed and priced. I wanted to compete in the NCAA but also study and receive a quality educational experience. I wanted the full package of being a student and an athlete. I balance the responsibilities of this lifestyle by communicating with my coaches, teammates, and professors, and through the use of Google calendar to put everything down visually. I am not perfect and constantly make mistakes, but I make it up for it with my effort and open-minded mentality.