Q&A with Arik Smith
Q: Why did you decide to attend West Point?
AS: I decided to attend West Point because when I was looking at the opportunities I had, I considered my background and my experience. A lot of my family has been in the military. Unknowingly, I grew up shaped to come to a place like West Point. Growing up, I liked to watch a lot of documentaries about wars, I’ve watched every Ken Burns documentary there is out there. When this opportunity came to the table, looking at all of them, I thought this was the best one.
Q: Aside from football, what’s been your favorite part of West Point?
AS: It’s just the people. The people. One thing I’ve learned being here at West Point is how to deal with and cooperate with a bunch of different types of people. I’m an electrical engineer so I meet people who are different than me in their approach and whatnot. So getting to know those people, showing them what my world is like, seeing what their world is like and making our worlds collide has been a great thing for me.
Q: What does it mean to you to be named captain of this team?
AS: It means a lot. It’s very special to me. Of course, everybody wants to be recognized for what they do. For me, it’s more about making sure that I can be my best for this team. Whether that be doing my job personally or helping other people do their job. It’s just nice to get recognized if that’s how people see me. It’s nice to be recognized by my teammates. I think that’s important.
Q: What was it like to be a part of the team that beat both Navy and Air Force at Michie Stadium?
AS: Last year was such a chaotic year in terms of COVID and how we did things and how different it was. So to see that kind of silver lining in all the darkness of COVID and the things that we were dealing with in winning at home was great. Beating Navy at home which is something we hadn’t done in a very long time was very special to me. Especially to do it with my teammates.
Q: What’s been your favorite non-football memory at the Academy?
AS: It’s come in the last couple of weeks. Ring weekend and getting to experience that with my parents and the people that are very close to me. It means a lot because a lot of times people stay center-focused, but it’s not just about me. My parents, the people around me and friends alike have helped me accomplish the things I have and to share those moments with them felt like a culmination of what’s happened here. It’s been a great thing.
Q: What are you hoping to branch?
AS: Cyber, as my major is electrical engineering.
Q: When you get free time, what are your favorite things to do?
AS: I like to read and watch documentaries. I’m a big documentary fan, whether it’s about the military, animals, bugs. Whatever. I’m always trying to get things in my head knowledge-wise. The more I get in my head, the more it comes out when I need it.
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