Christie Smith says she's a different student because of her military experience. It's given her a much greater appreciation for her education. (Larger image) Photo by Christopher Gannon
AMES, Iowa – The path that led Christie Smith to Iowa State University was far from a direct route. It’s an adventure that started in 2009 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri – included detours through Iowa City and Honduras – and brought her to Ames in 2015.
Looking back on her time at Iowa State, the graduating senior and Iowa National Guard solider says it’s clear this is where she belonged from the beginning. But the journey that brought her to Iowa State has only given her a greater appreciation for her soon-to-be alma mater.
“From my first day on the Iowa State campus, I just felt at home. I knew this is where I was supposed to be,” Smith said. “I only wish I would have been here all four years.”
But even if Smith could turn back time, it’s unlikely her college career would have been a traditional one. After spending two years at the University of Iowa, Smith decided to put her formal education on hold to build upon an experience that has dramatically shaped her life.
Patriotic duty
At age 17, before Smith even made her decision about college, she made a commitment. As a junior at AHSTW (Avoca, Hancock, Shelby, Tennant and Walnut) High School in western Iowa, she enrolled in the Iowa National Guard. Smith says it was something she always felt she should do. The promise of a free college education was a strong incentive, but that wasn’t what really compelled her to join.
“I’ve always had a strong feeling of patriotism. I love America, I love my country and wanted to do my part,” she said. “I also have a strong family history of service in various branches.”
That family history dates back to the Civil War when Smith’s great-great-great grandfather, John Pitt, enlisted in the 101st Indiana Regiment of the Union Army in 1861. Smith says a member of her family has served in every war since. Some four dozen relatives including Smith’s brother, sister, cousins and several extended relatives have or continue to serve in every branch of the military.
To be a part of such an extensive family legacy is a great source of pride for Smith. It’s what helped her – along with an intense competitive spirit – survive 10 weeks of basic training before her senior year of high school, and later when she was first assigned to a military police unit. Smith was one of only a handful of women in the unit and fought to overcome a lot of stereotypes. But the challenges of being a woman in the military helped shape the woman she is today.
“It was definitely an adjustment to be one of the few women in a large group of men,” Smith said. “But during basic training I told myself that regardless of the challenges I might face, I wasn’t going to quit. I wasn’t going to give up.”
A big turning point
Near the end of her first enlistment and her sophomore year of college, Smith was offered an opportunity to spend a year working as an MP in Honduras. It came at a time when Smith was struggling to declare a major and wasn’t sure if she wanted to continue her military career. She decided the experience – even though it meant putting college on hold – might provide the direction she needed.
Smith says her time in Honduras was a big turning point. She started running and found it was just the break she needed to figure out her future. “It sounds silly, but I found myself,” she said. “I found things that made me happy, I grew up and I matured a lot while I was in Honduras.”
Writing was one thing that had always made Smith happy. It’s a passion she pursued as a student at the University of Iowa, but questioned as a career because of doubts about job security. While in Honduras, Smith met an officer with the Air Force who worked in public affairs and was stationed in Honduras to document the U.S. service members’ mission there. It was an opportunity that Smith didn’t realize existed within the military, but she immediately knew it was the perfect fit. Once she returned to Iowa, Smith transferred to the Iowa Army Guard’s public affairs unit and made the decision to go back to school and earn her journalism degree.
Iowa State loyalty
Initially, Smith says she had doubts about trading her black and gold for cardinal and gold, but from a practical standpoint the decision to transfer to Iowa State made a lot of sense. Smith wanted to stay close to Camp Dodge in Johnston, so the close proximity was a selling point. And she had a lot of friends, many veterans, who spoke highly of their experiences at Iowa State.
“There’s just something about Iowa State. Whenever I talk to an alum, they can’t say enough good things about it,” Smith said. “I know every alum is proud of their university, but there is such a strong loyalty here.”
It didn’t take long for Smith to understand that loyalty. The support and guidance she received from faculty and staff eliminated a lot of the stress some student-soldiers face trying to balance their military commitments and school, she said. There was never a question or problem when Smith had to miss class because of training or for a trip this fall to Kosovo.
“I was really worried about going to Kosovo. It was a last-minute trip, close to graduation and a longer time frame than what I would normally need to miss class. All of my professors were so understanding and so accommodating. I was panicking and they all reassured me it would be fine and we could make it work.
“I have a lot of friends who go to other schools, and if they need to miss class for something military-related, their professors have sometimes not allowed them to make up a test or homework. I can’t relate to that because I’ve never had that experience at Iowa State,” she said.
Student and soldier roles intertwine
The experiences Smith has had as a Cyclone, such as writing for the Iowa State Daily, have helped prepare her for her future career. She accepted a full-time position this summer working for the Iowa National Guard’s state public affairs office, and looks forward to sharing stories about the work of National Guard soldiers in Iowa and their partnerships abroad, like the one in Kosovo.
“I don’t think a lot of people necessarily know about this partnership. We want to connect the partnership we have with Kosovo with our communities in Iowa,” Smith said. “It’s not just a military thing. It can go beyond to where a group of Iowa State students decide to spend a semester in Kosovo studying, or students in Kosovo come to Iowa State. We want to make that connection.”
During the October trip, Smith met faculty at the University of Pristina in Kosovo who are working with Curtis Youngs, a professor of animal science at Iowa State, to improve Kosovo’s agriculture industry.
“It was really cool because before I went to Pristina, I had no idea there was already this connection between Iowa State and Kosovo,” Smith said. “It was such a great surprise to meet with people halfway across the world who love and appreciate Iowa State, too.”
Smith says her military experience has strongly influenced her as a student. It’s given her a renewed perspective and greater appreciation for her education, as well as made her a stronger and bolder person. While the detours delayed her graduation date, Smith feels as if it’s all come full circle.
“At times, I felt like I might never graduate, but it all worked out,” Smith said. “Even two years ago, I was really unsure about where my life was headed. Now I have a job and will have a degree. I feel like everything has come into place.”
