Justin Smith

My academic and professional journey has been shaped by persistence, personal growth, and the discovery of a career that is deeply meaningful to me. I attended college intermittently between 2013 and 2023 and initially earned a cumulative GPA of 2.33. I eventually stepped away from college and entered the workforce as an IT technician.

I later accepted a position as a Residential Administrative Assistant with a nonprofit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities through South Carolina’s Office of Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities. Through this role, I discovered my passion for supporting individuals with developmental disabilities and helping improve their opportunities, independence, and quality of life.

My responsibilities allowed me to contribute to the organization in several meaningful ways. I planned and executed a prom attended by more than 100 individuals with developmental disabilities, helping create an inclusive and memorable experience for the people the agency served. I also served as the agency liaison for its Human Rights Committee, where I helped strengthen and expand the committee’s role in protecting the rights and interests of individuals receiving services. In addition, I helped develop and organize a waitlist process for individuals seeking residential services through the agency. These experiences strengthened my leadership, communication, advocacy, and organizational skills while giving me a clearer understanding of the needs of individuals with disabilities and their families.

This work gave me a strong sense of purpose and motivated me to return to college to complete my bachelor’s degree in psychology at Lander University. After returning to school, I earned a 4.0 GPA across my final 30 credit hours while continuing to work for the nonprofit organization and also working as a server in the food and beverage industry. My academic performance qualified me for recognition on the President’s List and demonstrated the focus, discipline, and academic maturity I had developed.

Since completing my bachelor’s degree, I have accepted a position as a Registered Behavior Technician. This role allows me to gain direct experience providing behavior-analytic services and to begin preparing to accumulate supervised fieldwork experience toward my long-term goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

On June 22, 2026, I was accepted into Ball State University’s Master of Arts program in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in autism. Through this program, I plan to expand my clinical knowledge, develop the skills necessary to provide ethical and effective behavior-analytic services, and continue building a career dedicated to supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.
My achievements to date are directly connected to my long-term goal of becoming a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and building a career supporting individuals with autism and other developmental disabilities.

Returning to college and earning a 4.0 across my final 30 credit hours demonstrated that I had developed the discipline, maturity, and sense of purpose needed to succeed academically. Being recognized on the President’s List was especially meaningful because it reflected how much I had grown from my earlier academic experience. It gave me confidence that I am capable of completing a rigorous graduate program while balancing significant work responsibilities.

My professional experience with a nonprofit organization serving individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities helped me identify the population I want to serve throughout my career. Planning and executing a prom for more than 100 individuals taught me the importance of inclusion, dignity, and creating meaningful opportunities for people with disabilities. Serving as the agency liaison for the Human Rights Committee strengthened my commitment to advocacy and ethical decision-making. Helping develop a waitlist process for individuals seeking residential services also showed me how urgently families need accessible, organized, and compassionate support systems.

These experiences shaped both my professional values and my career direction. They taught me that effective support must be individualized, ethical, and centered on each person’s needs and quality of life. My transition into a Registered Behavior Technician role is the next step in turning those values into direct clinical skills and practical experience.

My acceptance into Ball State University’s Master of Arts program in Applied Behavior Analysis with an emphasis in autism represents the continuation of that journey. Each achievement has prepared me to become a knowledgeable, ethical, and compassionate behavior analyst who can help individuals increase their independence, communication, and participation in their communities.