Jaélin Smith, senior, 2015 homecoming queen

Q: How does it feel to wear the crown?

A: Mind blowing. Actually, to this very second I’m still in shock of hearing my name called as homecoming queen of 2015. It’s definitely humbling; very, very humbling.

Q: As homecoming queen what would you like to give back to SU?

A: I personally love to work with the youth of the community. So with Shippensburg’s help, the university’s help, I plan to do a lot of outreach programs with younger youth ... middle school, high school, whatever age bracket, it doesn’t matter to me. During the summer I run a daughter’s of the kind program and run the princess class for the younger girls in the inner city Harrisburg area. So I think this will really give me a platform to reach them on a wider scale. I really look forward to doing that on campus as well.

Q: What made you decide to run for homecoming queen?

A: It’s not short answer. One, I already gave the outline to you in terms of working with the youth back home, the youth of the community and to help them on wider scale. I’m very introverted, is the second reason. It kind of forces me out of my comfort zone to put me on the forefront ground. I’m more of a background type person so this really forces me to be comfortable being uncomfortable with thousands of people looking at me as am I standing on the field, or hundreds of a young group of girls looking at me while I’m standing on stage. Whatever it may be, it’s forcing me to be uncomfortable.

Q: What would you consider to be one of your best qualities?

A: My communication skills ... So if you can communicate how you feel and communicate any misunderstandings, break through any barriers that it may be for someone to say hi or force someone to respond to your hi that’s important, especially for the cohesion on campus. To be a successful communicator on Shippensburg campus and beyond you have to communicate effectively, and I think I do that pretty well. I’ve learned to do that pretty well.

Q: If your best friend were to ask you today, “Come on with me, we are going to New York City’ what would you say?

A: I’m a planner. So I have this, I have class, I have meetings. Maybe after the meeting, maybe after my tutoring hours we can go for the night and come back before my night class tomorrow. So let’s go, but I have to take care of everything first. 

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