When Domenique Smith began competing in track and field in eighth grade, many believed she was already behind.
While other athletes had spent years developing their skills, Smith was just getting started. Rather than letting those doubts define her, she steadily transformed herself into a UIL state qualifier in the high jump. Yet earning a college scholarship was only part of her goal.
Throughout the recruiting process, Smith had one requirement for every school that pursued her: It had to offer a path to her dream of becoming an exotic animal veterinarian. That determination ultimately led her to Arkansas State University, where she will continue to pursue both her athletic and academic ambitions.
“My football coach, Coach (Jonathan) Thomas, recommended that I try track with the Wings Track Club during the summer,” said Smith.
Before joining the track team, Smith tested her athletic ability on the football team, playing cornerback. As a newcomer competing alongside an established group of jumpers, she had to earn the trust of coaches who had spent years developing more experienced athletes.
“I understand why the other athletes received more attention,” said Smith. “I was doubted and told I couldn’t be coached, which stuck with me the most. It hurt to hear, but I worked harder.”
Rather than letting those doubts define her, Smith turned criticism into motivation, using it as fuel to prove her detractors wrong while embracing the coaches who believed in her potential.
“I felt that if I couldn’t be coached, I’d do it myself,” said Smith. “Lucky for me, coaches Graylen Houston, Angel Boyd-Thomas, TJ Fakehinde, and Margaret Glover took the time and had the patience to make me who I am today.”
Smith’s determination caught the Shadow Creek coaching staff’s attention, and they quickly recognized that her natural athleticism outweighed her lack of experience.
“Despite Domenique’s lack of experience, she has always towered over most girls her age and has been athletic,” said Boyd-Thomas, who is Shadow Creek’s head girls’ track coach. “In middle school, athletic ability is easy to assess through basic drills and running mechanics. These qualities stood out in Domenique. What she lacked in experience, she seemed to make up for in ability.”
Smith proved she wasn’t a quitter. She wasn’t afraid to fail in her pursuit of greatness. While others focused on how late she started, Smith focused on how much she could improve.
“I always believed I was number one and could compete with athletes who had been doing this for years, even on my worst days,” said Smith, who didn’t qualify for her first UIL state meet until her senior season. “I was so grateful I didn’t give up on myself, even though it was hard. Most days, I felt like I wasn’t good enough.”
Along the way, Smith had to overcome not only the high jump bar but also the mental barriers that kept her from the state meet.
“Before I could clear the heights in my sleep, for the longest time I couldn’t figure out what mental block was happening to me,” said Smith. “Truth is, I started comparing myself to others, but I’m not like everyone else. I’m Domenique.”
The mental breakthrough was the final piece in a transformation that had been unfolding throughout Smith’s four years at Shadow Creek.
“Domenique’s work ethic matured during these years,” said Boyd-Thomas. “No longer was she absent from weight room days or Saturday workouts because of her involvement with football. She was present, dialed in, and willing to do whatever we needed her to do to be a team contributor.”
That commitment paid off in the biggest possible way, as Smith earned the opportunity to compete at both the state and national levels.
“Qualifying for a state or national championship is a huge honor,” said Boyd-Thomas. “It’s a direct reflection of work ethic, skill, and determination. Even before stepping foot at the meet, it’s a reward in itself just to be considered.”
Smith ultimately placed fifth at the UIL 6A State Track and Field Championships after clearing 5 feet 6 inches, a jump that earned her her first invitation to Nike Outdoor Nationals. As her performances drew the attention of college coaches, Smith remained focused on a goal that extended well beyond the track.
For Smith, finding the right college wasn’t just about athletics. She was equally determined to find a university that would help her achieve her lifelong dream of becoming an exotic animal veterinarian.
“There are enough dog and cat vets, and I enjoy the knowledge. I want to learn all I can about everything, and as an exotic vet, the knowledge is limitless,” said Smith.
That compassion eventually shaped how Smith approached her college search.
“I always believed I was number 1 and could compete with athletes who had been doing this for years, even on my worst days,” said Domenique Smith.
Schools such as Dakota Wesleyan University and Northwestern were eliminated because they did not offer veterinary programs. Rather than settling, Smith remained patient until she found a university that supported both of her ambitions.
Arkansas State offered Smith a scholarship, and she accepted it soon after.
“After hearing that I was offered a scholarship and that I’d be able to pursue both dreams at the same location, I was over the moon and in tears,” said Smith.
For Smith, the scholarship was more than an opportunity to continue competing; it validated years spent proving doubters wrong. Having once been told she wasn’t good enough, Smith hopes her journey will encourage young people facing similar doubts.
“Don’t listen to the noise. You are enough. You can do it. You are more than you ever know,” said Smith. “Sometimes it won’t feel that way, but if you ever feel like someone doesn’t believe in you, I do.”
