Humans of USU: Madison Smith
The Utah Statesman interviewed Madison Smith, a junior in public relations, from Dallas, Texas.
Utah Statesman: What is your most awkward roommate story?
Madison Smith: One time I slept walked into (my roommate’s) room, and I just happen to sleep not-clothed, and she had a guy over. I woke up and she was like, “What are you doing in here?” And I was just like, “I don’t know.”
US: Did you ever see him again?
MS: I see him all the time and I just have to apologize, like “I’m really sorry for that.”
US: Was that your most embarrassing moment, or do you have another?
MS: My most embarrassing story, I totally hate talking about it, but I will for this article. My friends (from Texas) and I … went to this concert, and I was so excited about it because I had never seen this guy live. So we went, and it happened to be at a bar, and things got a little crazy. I got a little too drunk. My friend was like, “I’m going to buy him a shot,” and I was like “Yeah, yeah, buy him a shot while he’s on the stage.” I was like, “I want to do it. I want to give it to him.”
US: How did he react?
MS: He was like, “I’m not taking that,” and I was just frozen on this platform in front of everyone, and I was like, “OK, what do I do?” So … I just drunkenly started yelling that “Shots” song, and then it just got really awkward, so he was like, “Ma’am can you please get off the stage?”
US: Who was the musician?
MS: Austin Gibbs. He was like, “Can you get off the stage?” … Then he was like, “OK, I don’t even want to play this song anymore. You’ve ruined the moment.” So me and my friends just left. I was like, “Nope, we’re done.”
US: Do you still listen to his music?
MS: No, I can’t even listen to his music because I just replay that moment in my head and I’m like, “I ruined that concert.”
US: Who is your celebrity crush?
MS: Harry Styles from One Direction. He’s so cute. Everyone secretly loves them.
US: When you were a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up?
MS: I’ve always wanted to do event plann
ing. I actually knew I wanted to be a public relations major when I was in eighth grade.
US: And before eighth grade?
MS: I always thought I could sing but I can’t sing, so I guess I wanted to be a singer, but I’m not musically inclined at all.
US: If you could change one thing about the world, what would you change and why?
MS: I would change pretentious people.
US: Can you expound on that?
MS: Yeah, because those type of people take life way too seriously and it’s not that serious. If everyone would just let loose and have a little fun, I think everybody would be a lot happier.
US: If you could go anywhere in the world, where would you go?
MS: I would go to England.
US: To find Harry Styles?
MS: One, yes. No, I’ve always wanted to go there. I guess there’s just so much history there, and I like old buildings and stuff. I figure it would be pretty cool.
US: Do you have any hidden talents?
MS: This is so embarrassing, but I can put a whole banana in my throat and close my mouth and pull it back out. There are a few videos of it. I just don’t have a gag reflex, I don’t know.
US: Any other unusual talents?
MS: No, I think that’s my best talent.
US: What’s your favorite quote?
MS: I don’t know who it’s by, but it’s on my phone. “We must take adventures in order to know where we truly belong.” I don’t know who said it.
US: Who’s the most influential person in your life and why?
MS: My mom. If she’s disappointed in me, I’m way harder on myself, but if she’s proud of me, then it makes me feel really good. So she’s definitely the most influential.
US: If you could bring back anyone from the dead, who would it be and why?
MS: That’s a tough question. I don’t have anyone close to me that’s died.
US: It could be someone famous or fictional.
MS: Let me look up famous dead people, dead celebrities. This is really sad. Why don’t I have anyone I would bring back from the dead?
US: Maybe you block out painful memories?
MS: I guess I just am like, “Oh, they’re dead, nothing I can do about it.” … Oh; JonBenet Ramsey, and I’d ask her who killed her, because I think it was her dad. I really do.
US: Where do you see yourself in five years?
MS: Hopefully not in college because I’m almost 23 years old, and it’s probably time to get out. I won’t graduate until I’m like 25 probably. … Hopefully living in a city somewhere. I want to move to Seattle. I don’t know why. I’ve never been there, but I had never been to Logan before I moved here.
US: What attracted you to USU?
MS: Two of my older brothers came up here just because my dad’s from Utah, and he knew about the school. I was just like, “Meh, get out of Texas and move here.” Literally the first time I had been up here was when my parents dropped me off for school. I had never been here.
US: Do you like it?
MS: I love it. It’s so much fun.
US: Why do you love it?
MS: Probably just my group of friends. I found a solid group of friends that are a lot like me.
US: Can they do banana tricks as well?
MS: They cannot. But they enjoy the trick.
US: What’s your spirit animal?
MS: An elephant.
US: Why elephant?
MS: Because they’re very wise and they have a really good memory, and I have a very good memory. I just love them. I have like six different elephant things in my room.
US: What are you particularly passionate about and why?
MS: Music. I just think that it can totally change someone’s mood. When I wake up in the morning I start listening to music, and I listen to music pretty much until I’m going to sleep. … It’s my favorite.
US: Who’s your favorite artist?
MS: Right now it’s Lord Huron. I really like him. He’s really good.
US: You work in the computer labs. What’s the craziest thing you’ve seen happen at work?
MS: I was late to work and as I was going into work, I found a little girl outside the TSC who had lost her mom. I didn’t want to leave her there, so I had to take her with me into the TSC computer lab and sit there. We called campus police and I was just like, “How is this all happening in one day?” I’m late and then I find this little girl and she’s like, “I lost my mom,” and she was totally fine with it. I was just like, “I don’t know where to take her. I’m not kidnapping her, I swear.”
US: So now you know what to do with lost children?
MS: Yes. You take them and you just let them color, they’ll be fine. Her mom showed up and it was fine.