Victoria Smith-Howard enrolled in an Indianapolis community college in 2012. While she was working toward her associate degree, she began to think more about the opportunities a larger school might have to offer. After completing her first degree, Tori transferred to IUPUI to experience the unique qualities of a large, urban campus. Upon her decision to transfer, Tori became excited about experiencing some of the quintessential features of an American university, such as joining student organizations, walking around campus in her free time, and attending classes in large lecture halls.
In the fall of 2016, Tori began at IUPUI with interests in art and social work. After discovering that she could combine classes from those interests and others, she decided to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in general studies. Aside from her interests in social work and art, Tori also has an entrepreneurial spirit. One of her long-term goals is to open up a cafe or a daycare. She also hopes to take the ideas and passions that her bachelor’s degree has given her and venture outside of Indiana to explore the possibilities around the world.
After graduation, Tori plans to enjoy the summer with friends and family—it will be her first summer in six years without a class. Having a degree is a huge accomplishment for Tori. It serves as a powerful reminder of her hard work and perseverance to accomplish something beyond herself. She’s proud of her achievement, and she is excited to see what the future holds.