WELCOME TO MY ePortfolio!

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I'm Susan Smith, a proud graduate of The University of Alabama, where I earned my B.A. in Communications with a minor in Social Welfare and graduated summa cum laude in the Spring of 2025. I grew up in a small town just outside of Houston, Texas, but my passion has always reached far beyond the borders of where I’m from.

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I’m not your typical college graduate. My greatest accomplishments aren’t found on a résumé; they are my three children: two biological and one adopted through foster care. For over 20 years, being their mother was my full-time role, and watching them thrive awakened a calling in me to ensure that ALL children, no matter their background, race, or circumstances, have the chance to succeed.

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That calling became my mission.

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Rooted in my own childhood experiences and shaped through years as a Child Advocate, Guardian ad Litem, and foster parent, I’ve dedicated myself to being a voice for the voiceless—the most vulnerable among us. Through these roles, I’ve witnessed firsthand the devastating gaps in our justice and support systems, especially for children navigating trauma, foster care, or systemic neglect.

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Now, with my children grown and thriving, I’m stepping forward with renewed purpose. I plan to attend Northwestern University’s Master of Arts in Counseling program in Spring 2026, a critical next step in my journey to support and advocate for individuals impacted by trauma, neglect, and abuse. My goal is to become a licensed professional counselor focused on working with children, adolescents, and survivors of human trafficking.

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Armed with lived experience, an academic foundation, and a lifelong passion for advocacy, I will continue raising my voice where silence too often persists—in therapy rooms, in schools, and in underserved communities across the country. My mission is to heal, support, and empower those who have felt unseen and unheard.

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This isn’t just a passion. It’s my life’s purpose!