Laurel Smith is what you might call a go-getter. This young lady is graduating in May with a BS in Psychology after only three years of school –with honors, no less. That achievement alone is incredible. But that’s not all this young collegiette has achieved while here at UGA. She’s also an area coordinator for the Guide Dog Foundation and is now raising her second dog, Elliot.
“When I was a freshman on campus, I saw people walking around on campus with dogs. So I found out what it is they do and wanted to be a part of it,” Laurel says.
Working with guide and service dogs is extremely important to her, and she definitely wants to continue working with them in the future. She’s even got an internship with Southeastern Guide Dogs lined up this summer!
“When I graduate I’ll be moving to St. Petersburg, Florida for six weeks,” she tells us. “I’m really excited to work with the volunteers there and spend time with all the adorable future guide dogs.”
In addition to working with GDF, she is a TA for Professor Brian Leffler’s American Sign Language (ASL) 1 class.
“Knowing ASL can be a big help when working with service dog schools because some service dog schools work with people who are deaf or people who are deaf and blind,” she explains.
Laurel started ASL during the spring 2014 semester and fell in love with it.
“It’s just a really cool language!”
When she’s not training her guide dog or being a TA for her ASL class, she’s busy with her two other jobs. She’s a nanny for two little, energetic children and works for the UGA call center. We’re exhausted just writing about it. So how does she manage all of it?
“I think it’s really important that I’m not doing anything I don’t want to be doing,” she says. “Everything I’m doing is something I’m interested in. It doesn’t feel like a chore. Even all of my classes are subjects that interest me.”
Laurel is the definition of hard working, and throughout her college experience, has juggled all of her responsibilities with a sense of ease we all envy. But her upcoming graduation is going to be a bittersweet affair.
“I’m going to miss Saturdays, working with GDF, meeting so many people, living in a town that has a lot of access to fun events… just everything, really.”
UGA will miss you, too, Laurel. Good luck!