Norma Jean Haynes AC ’23
Scholarship Recipient
What does being a Smithie mean to you?
To be a Smithie is to be part of a supportive community dedicated to leadership, service and critical thought.
Why Smith?
Smith strikes a rare balance between beautiful traditions and a commitment to innovation.
Why is financial aid important to you?
Financial aid has given me the privilege of treating learning as my vocation. Thanks to my scholarship, I have not had to seek outside employment during my time at Smith, nor have I had to sacrifice any of my academic ambitions due to lack of funds. There has been funding for more opportunities than I could dream of, from international research to online language programs.
Who or what has had the most impact on you?
Making music in community has always been my North Star.
“Every dollar given truly supports a student’s vision and it is the plurality of these visions that makes Smith such a strong community.”
What’s your favorite thing about Smith?
I love the community of Ada Comstock Scholars—I learn so much from them and feel so supported. It is rare to be in an environment where your experience beyond the classroom is seen as an asset to your learning.
What are your career goals?
I’m studying French and education, and look forward to incorporating both of those areas into my career. After graduation, I’m planning on continuing my work as a musician and educator, producing my second album of original music (in English and French!), and furthering my research in music education through the pursuit of fellowships such as the TAPIF [Teaching Assistant Program in France] and the Fulbright. I am looking at a graduate program in education at the Université du Québec à Montréal.
I hope to explore the intersection of arts and community from as many angles as possible, as teacher, performer, student, writer and researcher.
What’s an opportunity that changed you?
I received a Blumberg Fellowship to conduct independent research in Corsica and Avignon during the summer of 2022. I walked away from that experience with a wealth of new learning. More than that, though, it helped shape my identity as an artist, a truth that cannot be taken away.
“To see the ways in which Smith has increased grant funding for its students in recent years makes me proud to call myself a Smithie.”
What’s an accomplishment you are proud of from your time at Smith?
Thanks to a combination of applied study and study abroad, I have been able to progress in the French language beyond my wildest dreams. I now speak and write fluently. And since returning from six months in France, I have undertaken a creative writing practice in French that I'm excited to continue exploring. I have been able to build a community of artists in France and Quebec whose work excites and nourishes me.
Why should donors support financial aid?
Every dollar given supports a student’s vision and it is the plurality of these visions that makes Smith such a strong community. To see the ways in which Smith has increased grant funding for its students in recent years makes me proud to call myself a Smithie.
Contact Us
To make an endowed gift or to learn more about supporting financial aid at Smith, please contact Betsy Carpenter ’93, associate vice president for development, at 413-585-2052 or ewcarpen@smith.edu.