February 13, 2023

Metchersa Smith knew she was in for a change when she came to Drexel. Hailing from the Kamit Preparatory Institute, a predominantly African American preparatory school taught by predominately African American educators, she was one of four graduating seniors. Life at Drexel is certainly bigger than she was used to, and, during her first nursing classes, Smith admits she felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of her fellow students and that maintaining relationships with new peers was difficult during her first year of all online instruction, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, Smith leaned on family support to get her through, and now she feels confident in her campus and program.

For as long as she can remember, Smith has dreamed of working as a maternal-child health practitioner. While she initially considering pursuing a pre-med track, Smith learned about the role of midwives and nurses and chose to pursue nursing with an eye to maternal health, while still remaining option to a variety of specialties. In addition to her passion for healthcare, Smith is a member of Drexel THRIVE, a fellow of the Macy Undergraduate Leadership Fellows Program, a for-credit leadership program designed for undergraduate students in public health, nursing and the health professions, and she is an active member of the Board of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at CNHP.

To guide her through her nursing program at Drexel, Smith has developed a unique method for success – the Target Grade List. Each quarter, she plots her classes on a chart, determines her desired grade for each class, and then scheduled her study habits, assignment deadlines and more. This organizational strategy has propelled her through three years of nursing school, and she believes that this system could help her fellow students. When Smith has finished her studying for the day, she can be found crocheting clothes and scarves, chatting with family and going out with friends.