Mount Si junior heads to Harvard

Published 8:30 am Friday, June 24, 2016

If this were a typical summer, Mount Si High School junior Emma Smith would be “hanging out with my friends, probably at the river or around a bonfire and playing a lot of basketball.”

But this isn’t a typical summer for the 17-year-old daughter of Brock and Kellie Smith of Snoqualmie. Smith was invited to apply for summer school at both Stanford and Harvard and was subsequently accepted into both programs.

Now, she is looking forward to spending part of her summer studying at Harvard, one of the most prestigious universities in the country.

With school counselor recommendations and a transcript showing an approximate 3.9 grade-point-average, Smith was given the green light to participate in the Harvard and Stanford programs geared to highly promising prospective students.

“Getting asked to apply was amazing – and being accepted into both programs was unbelievable,” Smith said. “Picking which school to attend was a super tough decision. After submitting my applications, there were deadlines that I had to deal with and I committed to participating in a church mission trip this summer, which unfortunately happens at the same time as the Stanford program.”

Smith will take a course in public speaking at Harvard because “it sounded interesting and I like to be interactive with people. Public speaking will help no matter what career path I eventually choose.”

“I’m excited to see the east coast for the first time, but am most interested in meeting students from different cultures and backgrounds, since it is an international program,” she said.

The Harvard Summer Pre-College Program will allow Smith time to visit other colleges, such as MIT and Boston College, plus some fun events like visiting Fenway Park and participating in a scavenger hunt around Cambridge, Mass.

Smith has participated in the National Honor Society and will be a member of the Associated Student Body for her senior year. Math is one of her favorite subjects.

Smith was the starting point guard on the Mount Si High School basketball team, and team captain last year. She was recognized with the coach’s award for the season and represented student athletes in the interview process for a new basketball coach.

She also babysits, teaches youngsters basketball skills and volunteers through her church.

As for specific colleges, or a particular career, she said it’s too soon for those decisions.