Sheraya Smith | Alumni

An Appetite for Adventure

Growing up near Crawfordsville, Ind., Sheraya Smith ’20 had always been familiar with DePauw University. But even though she was initially leaning toward other options in the lead-up to her college decision, one crucial development changed her perspective.

“My parents suggested that I apply for the Rector Scholarship," recalls Smith. “I ended up receiving the scholarship, and that pretty much sealed my plans to come to DePauw. At the time, that wasn't how I had ideally planned things to go. But looking back, I see now that it was such a huge gift and has set me up so well in many different ways.”

One of the most transformative experiences Smith experienced during her time as a DePauw student was the opportunity to study abroad in New Zealand. For her, it was an ideal blend of academics and adventure, and it also introduced her to a new love: backpacking.

“I had been raised out in the country on 33 acres, so I already had an appreciation for nature and being outside. But I had never really been backpacking. That first backpacking trip in New Zealand made me realize there are so many things I could only see because I was on foot. It was just amazing. And I think that's what motivated me and caused me to fall in love with hiking.”

After returning to Greencastle and finishing up her degree in computer science, Smith took a job with a nearby company – owned by a DePauw alum – where she had previously been a summer intern. It was a supportive environment to begin her career, but Smith couldn’t shake the memory of what she had experienced in New Zealand. She set a goal for herself to work for three years and then step away for a season to further explore and experience the vast beauty of nature.

In June of 2023, Smith followed through on her goal. She started with a 6-week road trip across the northern United States, eventually making it to Alaska while visiting several national parks along the way. She then followed that up with a pair of 10-week service trips – one to Belize and one to South Africa. But the pinnacle of her adventurous sabbatical was an expedition that took her through 14 states on her own two feet while hiking the entirety of the Appalachian Trail.

“It was such an epic adventure,” says Smith. “In many ways, it was everything I thought it would be and more. It's still hard to wrap my head around the idea that I walked 2,200 miles in a year.”

The journey, however, was anything but easy. From hurricanes to ingrown toenails, Smith faced an assortment of obstacles that tested her physical and mental strength. Through it all, she also learned an important – and paradoxical – life lesson about the close relationship between independence and need.

“I was carrying everything that I needed on my back, and it was my feet that were causing me to go from mile to mile,” says Smith. “But interestingly enough, on the Appalachian Trail, that’s only part of the story. I also realized just how vulnerable I was and how dependent I became on others. I could spend an hour talking just about the people that helped me along the way.”

As Smith reflects on her adventures and prepares for what might come next, she’s quick to acknowledge her gratitude for the unexpected outcome of her college decision process.

“The reason I was able to do this sabbatical year was in large part, because of the Rector scholarship,” she explains. “Because of the Rector, I was able to graduate without debt, and that set me up so beautifully for this opportunity.”

Spending a semester in one of the most beautiful places on earth certainly didn’t hurt either.

“New Zealand changed my life. It was just an absolutely incredible experience, and it’s what gave me a desire to do these things in the first place. I have so much to thank DePauw for.”