Photo By Staff Sgt. Whitney Amstutz | Kyle Smith, former Air Force dependent and Eastern New Mexico University freshman,...... read more read more
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Kyle Smith was 4 when his father received orders to Cannon Air Force Base in 2000.
Unlike many children born into Air Force families, there are no photo albums documenting Smith’s childhood travels throughout Europe; he never donned water wings and swam with the dolphins in Hawaii, and he does not own a push-pin covered map annotating all the states he has called home.
Smith has spent the past 15 years living, earning an education and building friendships in Clovis, a fact some might find unbelievable if not altogether unfortunate.
Smith disagrees.
“I have loved growing up here,” he said. “I loved the environment, my schools, my teachers and my friends. Living here as long as I have, you learn the ins and outs of a place and become part of the community.”
Following his father’s retirement in 2004, Smith and his family decided to stay and put down permanent roots in Clovis.
“When Kyle’s father retired, we were both faced with being unemployed,” said Ellen Saccoia, Airman & Family Readiness Center community readiness consultant and Smith’s mother. “I had a great job at the A&FRC, which was one factor in our decision to stay in Clovis. Another reason we decided to stay was I am originally from central New York and the cost of living and violent crime index are off the charts. While Clovis has its share of petty crime and issues, as every place does, it in no way compares to the day to day happenings I experienced in New York. Clovis was a great place to raise our children, give them a good life, and be able to afford doing things as a family.”
Having remained in the Clovis Municipal School District for the entirety of his public schooling career, Smith missed out on an experience many military children are all too familiar with: being the new kid. Instead, he was able to build lasting relationships and transition easily from elementary school, to middle and high school.
“I have attended Clovis schools since kindergarten,” he said. “Over the years I have gotten to know many of my teachers well and still keep in touch with some of them. In middle school I played sports as soon as they were offered and I graduated from Clovis High School in 2014. It is a tight group. Everyone is here for you no matter what you might need.”
Saccoia echoed her son’s sentiments.
“I loved Clovis schools because they offered my children so much more than an academic education,” she said. “The schools fostered character, community involvement, musical enrichment, and a safe environment to grow and learn. In my experience, the schools here promote and adhere to the philosophy ‘it takes a village.’ They are committed to the success of each student - regardless of their socioeconomic background. Moreover, the teachers have positively influenced my children's lives in ways that are priceless.”
Despite the stability he was afforded throughout his formative years, there were times Smith wished he could be like his classmates, engaging in cross-continental moves with their families and gaining priceless experiences along the way.
“I was jealous of my friends moving away sometimes,” he said. “Making friends in a place where so many are affiliated with the military can be rough because you never know how long you’re going to be able to keep them. Ultimately, though, I am happy that I stayed. I may not be as well traveled, but the experiences I did have were equally valuable to me.”
Now that he’s arrived at the ripe old age of 19, Smith is pursuing an undergraduate degree at Eastern New Mexico University.
“I chose to stay in the area for college because ENMU is one of the most affordable schools of its kind,” Smith said. “The educational standards are in no way lax, but the teachers still find time to give you the attention and hands-on elements I was accustomed to in high school. There are no mega-lectures; it’s a really personable environment.”
With graduation and the working world looming on the horizon, Smith is looking toward to the future. Not surprisingly, that future is looking pretty Air Force blue.
“Kyle is very interested in serving his country and joining the Air Force,” Saccoia said. “I will support his future plans and decisions, including his plans to join the Air Force.”
With the support of his family, Smith hopes to continue the legacy his father began decades ago.
“I would like to follow in my dad’s footsteps,” Smith said. “I am in no way anxious to leave Clovis. The place and the people have been good to me, but I am excited to explore the world and branch out on my own. Who knows, I may get stationed right back here at Cannon. If that happens, I would be okay with it.”
Editor’s Note: This article is the third in a series highlighting exceptional members of the Air Force family in honor of Military Family Appreciation Month.
| Date Taken: | 11.02.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 11.20.2015 09:57 |
| Story ID: | 182440 |
| Location: | CANNON AIR FORCE BASE, NM, US |
| Hometown: | CLOVIS, NM, US |
| Web Views: | 67 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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