Alumna Deanna Smith encourages students: ‘Everything Matters’
Meridian Community College alumna Deanna Smith returned to campus to speak with students about leadership, perseverance, and purpose during a recent Leadership Effectiveness and Development (LEAD) session.
Smith, who now serves as associate dean of students at Mississippi State University–Meridian, shared her message, “Everything Matters.” She reminded students that both big and small actions shape their futures. “The little things matter. The big things matter. Where you came from matters,” Smith said. “Relationships matter. People matter. Being kind matters. Working hard matters.”
A first-generation college student, Smith spoke about her journey. She recalled how her parents valued hard work and encouraged her to pursue higher education, even when college was an unfamiliar territory for their family. Smith attended MCC through the Tuition Guarantee Program, an experience she said changed her life.
“MCC helped me so much,” she said. “I got involved, I met people, and I built relationships that would later open doors for me. If I hadn’t built those relationships here, I don’t know where I’d be today.”
Smith told students that MCC was the ideal place to begin their college journey. “You’re in the best place for everything you’ve mentioned,” she said. “MCC can get you started anywhere you want to go. You’re in very good hands.”
After earning her degree at MCC, Smith transferred to Mississippi State University, later returning to MCC as a student recruiter and advisor before moving into leadership roles. She credited mentors and colleagues from her MCC years for helping guide her path.
“Any success I’ve had hasn’t just happened,” she said. “The relationships you build — with teachers, classmates, and others — can make all the difference. People matter, and how you treat them matters.”
The event was part of MCC’s ongoing LEAD series, which offers monthly sessions designed to help students grow as leaders by learning from professionals in various fields. The next LEAD session is scheduled for Nov. 19 at 1 p.m. in the Quave Center.
For more information, visit meridiancc.edu.