Grace Smith, Parkland High School’s 2020 senior class president, will take the first steps of her post-graduation life as a member of the United States Navy.

Smith was recently inducted into the Naval Academy Class of 2024 and will begin six weeks of midshipman training June 25 during Plebe Summer at the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Md.

Smith said she has been working to develop skills in leadership, team-building, community service throughout her school career to prepare herself for the academy and life in the Navy.

“I’m involved in a lot of things through the high school, and I’m also involved in a lot of things through the community,” Smith said.

At Parkland, she has served as class president for three out of four years, been an officer in National Honor Society, American Sign Language Honor Society, and the Peers Assist Learning Support Club.

Additionally, she has been active outside of school as a student ambassador for the Travis Manion Foundation and co-director of the Lehigh Valley 9/11 Heroes run.

Smith has been thinking about going to the Naval Academy since she first visited the campus in middle school and said subsequent visits for various camps or leadership events confirmed her desire to attend.

“I remember going down years and years ago, when I was in middle school, and seeing the campus. They always say when you step onto the campus that you want to go to - the school you want to go to - you instantly have that feeling that ‘this is where I belong,’ and I had that feeling,” Smith said. “The campus is beautiful, the education is unlike any other, and then on top of that you get to not only serve your community but also your nation which is, I think, really important.

“Each time I went back I didn’t want to leave, I really loved it. It was just all-around a place that I thought I could excel at the most.”

Smith currently plans on majoring in political science at the academy.

“I think I’m leaning toward that field,” she said, but added she is also keeping an open mind to explore her interests, career paths and the majors offered at the academy.

According to a Naval Academy news release approximately 1,200 candidates are selected each year for the “plebe” or freshman class.

During the six challenging weeks of Plebe Summer, plebes learn basic skills in seamanship, navigation, damage control, sailing and handling yard patrol craft, in addition to infantry drill and handling 9 mm pistols and M16 rifles.

New midshipmen will also experience moral, mental, physical, professional development and team-building skills, and undertake strenuous physical activities including swimming, martial arts, basic rock climbing, obstacle, endurance and confidence courses.

Upon graduation, midshipmen earn a Bachelor of Science degree in a choice of 25 subject majors, and will go on to serve at least five years as commissioned officers in the United States Navy or Marine Corps.

Smith said she began her application in January of her junior year and noted that she received a nomination from Congresswoman Susan Wild, D-7th, for the Naval Academy.

“The military academies, just in general, are some of the hardest applications,” she said. “If you can make it through that difficult application process, you are already kind of prepared for what they’re going to be putting you through when you arrive.”

Receiving her official academy appointment was more unusual than expected due to the need to obtain a medical waiver for an old allergy.

“It was really complicated. The doctor’s offices are closed, and I had to get a loophole to go to the allergist, but then it also had to go through the Department of Defense medical screening,” Smith explained. “I got my official notice in May, which is really late, but it was worth it.”

Smith also spoke about leaving for the Naval Academy during the era of social distancing and closures brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic.

“It’s kind of crazy especially with everything that’s going on right now,” she said.

Smith graduated June 9 with the rest of the Parkland senior class in a virtual ceremony. Other students, however, will have an in-person graduation in August.

“I won’t get to be at that, so I had to record my speech - my senior president speech - and it will be played during the virtual graduation instead,” she explained. “It’s definitely like everybody is trying to accommodate me leaving so early.”

Despite the unusual circumstances, Smith is happy to spend as much time as she can with family and friends, and she looks forward to what Plebe Summer will bring.

“I’m really excited. I assume I’m just as nervous as everybody else, but I think that it’s good to be nervous about something like that,” she said. “I’m really excited to meet everybody.”

Smith will be the second member of her family joining the Navy after her brother, Matthew, a 2014 Parkland alumnus. He graduated from the Naval Academy in 2019 and is now in Pensacola, Fla. for flight school.

“When he saw I was serious about wanting to go there and I actually intended to apply, he leaned toward the supportive side. He’s been giving me useful hints … He’s definitely been helpful in that way,” Smith said.

Smith also has a sister, Carly, who graduated in 2017 from Parkland and is attending Temple University.

The daughter of Bill and Holly Smith, of Orefield, her dad commented for the family regarding his daughter’s induction and future at the Naval Academy.

“We’re extremely proud of all the work and effort she’s put into preparing herself for the opportunity,” he said.

“We’re proud and happy to see her take on this next adventure in her life.”