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Sydney Smith

@sydney4663

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Meet our October Member Spotlight✨

Sydney has been part of Friendship Circle for 15 years, and when asked what FC means to her, she had one word: happiness 🫶🏻

She loves staying involved, whether she’s volunteering in the community, getting creative at FOTT or even helping make a new bulletin board at FC. After 15 years, she’s definitely made FC her own.

And outside of FC? She’s a HUGE Dancing with the Stars fan and is rooting for Jackson Olson and Andy Richter this season. If she ever hit the ballroom herself, she already knows who she’s picking as her partner: Val 🪩! She also loves the Masked Singer, especially Ken Jeong gets her laughing!

We’re excited to kick off our new Member Spotlight of the Month, if you would like to be featured dm us!

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Good times ☺️ at @phippsconservatory 🌸 Sensory Inclusive Time at the Summer Flower Show: Alice's Adventures in Wonderland. Thank you to @fcpgh for coordinating this meetup so Kai could hang with his friends 🤗. And thank you @rachelh5678 for going with him 😊

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I’d go back to December all the time ❄️❄️❄️

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Thank you for 2025 for all the beautiful and iconic memories. Thank you God for the opportunity of growth in 2025. Thank you to all the people who have made my 2025 such a beautiful year and there were so many more people I wish I could have included in the 20 Instagram slides. Praise God for more memories and growth in 2026! 🫶🫶🫶🫶✨✨✨✨

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Thank you for all that you do and all you have contributed to #FCpgh over the years @sydney4663 🫶 we can’t wait to Walk the Walk with you on Nov. 2nd!

#Walk4Friendship #FriendshipCircle #DisabilityInclusion #Pittsburgh #InclusionMatters

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Today I returned to my alma mater to spend some time with my friends at the homecoming football game! 💚🤍

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And just like that, our weekend adventure in Chagrin Falls has come to an end. Thank you, @sydney4663 and @chimenebrant for an amazing weekend away in my state. I look forward to our next adventure in the city of Cleveland! 🩷

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Sometimes all I think about is you, late nights in the middle of June ☀️☀️✨✨

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Reunited with an old friend in Pittsburgh for SRU Alumni Day! 🖤💛 💚🤍

#pittsburghpirates #srualumni #rockalumni

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♡ Happy Bday Ethan Slater ♡

@ethanslater I just did this amazing project that is a scrapbook-style post of all your eras to celebrate the most amazing and popular projects that you did those last years along with some Bday wishes and messages from your fans that still love you so much, hope you love it so much because I made this post with so much love and I’m so proud of your longtime journey, have a beautiful day, love you so much ♡
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Tags: @ethanslater #ethanslater #happybirthday #spongebobthemusical #wickedmovie #assassins #spamalot #elsbeth #edgeoftheworld #arianagrande

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Where the Slippery Rock Creek wanders
With her sparkling falls
There in stately grace and beauty
Stand old S.R. halls

Sing her praises loud resounding
Speed them on their way
We’ll be true to thee, oh, S.R.
True for aye and aye.

All thy halls the day in dying
Crown with golden light
And the morn in waking splendor
Greets thee in thy might

Sing her praises loud resounding
Speed them on their way
We’ll be true to thee, oh, S.R.
True for aye and aye.

Long may you, our alma mater
Shed your light abroad
As your loyal sons and daughters
Live for you and God.

Sing her praises loud resounding
Speed them on their way
We’ll be true to thee, oh, S.R.
True for aye and aye.

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I’m feeling a wide range of emotions today as I end my college chapter: pride for how far I’ve come, sadness for what I’m leaving behind, and uncertainty about the road ahead as I now begin my adulthood journey.

On May 10th, 2025, the Morrow Field House at Slippery Rock University was filled with cheers, camera flashes, and so many emotions. My heart was racing, not just because of the ceremony, but because this was my moment. Graduation day. The day I had dreamed about, worked for, and waited on for four years. Surrounded by my friends, professors, and loved ones, I wasn’t just another face in the crowd. I was a graduate. I made it.

When I first arrived on campus on August 19, 2021, I was an unsure 18-year-old girl from northeast Ohio, fresh out of high school, nervous about fitting in and figuring out who I was. But over time, through classes, challenges, friendships, late-night rehearsals, and even football games, I found my place, my voice, and my confidence.

Being in the Rock Life program helped me grow in ways I never thought possible. I learned to be resilient, to speak up, to ask for help, and to keep going even on the tough days. I joined many clubs that sparked my passions: Musical Theatre Society, WSRU-TV, Film Society, International Club, the Rock-apellas, and more. Each one helped shape the person l’ve become.

President Karen Riley said, “we were there to celebrate,” and for me, that celebration wasn’t just about a piece of paper. It was about rising above the odds. Despite my disabilities, including high-functioning autism and mild cerebral palsy, I showed up, I pushed through, and I succeeded. And I was never alone. The kindness of the SRU community, including professors, peers, and friends, carried me when I needed it most.

I am leaving SRU with more than just a certificate. I am leaving with courage, pride, hope, and the belief that I have something meaningful to offer this world.

To everyone who was part of my journey, including the staff of Rock Life, my friends, my parents, my professors, and the entire community of Slippery Rock, thank you for making room for me, for believing in me, and for helping me become who I am.

GO ROCK!

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