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Danielle Smith, who is majoring in psychology with a minor in religion at Eastern New Mexico University, hopes to become a licensed counselor.
"I just want to help people. I really mean that," she shares. "The reality is that there are a lot of heartbreaking statistics out there, and I think counselors are a crucial part of processing trauma."
She chose her field of study because she is "fascinated with the brain, and it's response to daily life and trauma. It feels like I was born to study psychology. I am very religious as well, which is why I chose religion as my minor. Being passionate about the topics I study is extremely important to me."
The Zeta Tau Alpha alumna is married, helps with children's church at Trinity in Portales, is a foster parent, and volunteers with A21, an organization that seeks to abolish slavery and trafficking.
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Danielle was born in San Antonio and went to high school in Littlefield, Texas. She has five brothers and four sisters, and her mother is a math teacher at Dimmitt Middle School in Texas.
She chose to attend Eastern because it was close to home and affordable.
The Dean's List honoree's mentor is Dr. Gary Bond, a professor of psychology at ENMU. "Dr. Bond has been wonderful," she explains. "He is always so helpful and has taught me more than I expected to learn in any of his classes."
She advises students interested in her major to try out a psychology course. When asked about her favorite class, Danielle replies, "I can't pick a favorite. I have seriously fallen in love with every single psychology class I have taken. The professors are fantastic and, in my opinion, it is the most interesting subject ever."
Her go-to spot at ENMU is the Campus Union: "You can walk in there during busy times of the day and almost always see one of your friends."
Danielle's favorite part of being a Greyhound is "all of the other Greyhounds I get to surround myself with!"
Her hobbies include reading, writing, playing video games and running. Her dream is to write a book someday.