Many students struggle to decide on a college. But FAMU freshman Zanaba Smith had plenty of family support to help her make up her mind. Five of her sisters earned their baccalaureate degrees on The Hill. “FAMU to me is a home away from home,” said Smith, a 2011 graduate of Bayside High School in Palm Bay, Fla. “My sisters all expressed to me the joy and experiences that they have had at FAMU and how much I will love the atmosphere there.”
While Smith has chosen to continue her family’s legacy on ‘The Hill,’ the 17-year-old scholar will soon be writing a story of her own.
As a junior in high school, Smith became involved in Collegiate High, a dual enrollment program with the local community college. She admits that life became a juggling act—balancing college courses, high school homework and her household chores.
That dedication paid off this past May when Smith earned her associate’s degree while maintaining a 3.7 grade point average (GPA). One week later, she donned a cap and gown again when she graduated from high school with a 4.2 GPA.
“A quality education is very important to me,” said Smith, who earned a George W. Gore Scholarship from FAMU. “My mother has always expressed the importance of a good education, so that I wouldn’t end up working two jobs to provide for my family like she had to. I want to be a very successful woman and the only way I know how to be that is to get the best education that I can.”
Smith was rewarded a $3,000 scholarship per year with an additional $2,000 annually because of her major.
Her sister, Naashon Ducille, said she told her baby sister that FAMU was the only school of choice, even though Smith applied and was accepted to Florida State University (FSU) and Jacksonville University.
“I wanted her to experience the love and family that I did,” said Ducille, who earned her bachelor’s degree in health science from FAMU in 2007. “I know FAMU will help her grow to be who she is destined to be. She is strong, intelligent and very special. Now when we go back to FAMU for Homecoming, it will truly be a family affair.”
A native of Hollywood, Fla., Smith plans to study industrial engineering in the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering. She was first attracted to FAMU while visiting her older sister, Sarah Ducille, during the summer of 2001 when Smith was just eight years old.
“When I was younger I wanted to be so many things and I was always changing my mind,” she said of her career path. “First I wanted to be teacher, but I realized I didn’t have much patience. Then I wanted to be a doctor because of all the cool medical shows, but I soon realized I didn’t like blood. As of two years ago, I decided I wanted to be an engineer like my big sister because I enjoy math and science.”
Smith said she believes people associated with FAMU bring a true sense of pride and community to the campus.
“I feel as though it is deeply embedded in the roots and I want to learn and become a part of that,” she said. “It already feels like home.”
