VaLanDria Smith-Lash ’19 attributes the remarkable growth of Course Culture (and her own ever-expanding list of personal awards – Forbes 30 under 30 awardee!), to three guiding principles: structure, connection and consistency. These attributes, she says, have been the foundation of her journey as an entrepreneur and changemaker.

At just 14-years-old, Smith-Lash began a quest to better understand her mom’s lupus diagnosis and return the same love and support her mom had always given her. One solution came in the way of soothing shea butter products Smith-Lash developed that provided relief to her mom’s irritated skin. She began selling at local health food stores and soon found that her products were well-received in her mom’s lupus support groups as well. 

At Reserve, Smith-Lash discovered a new kind of challenge: independence. Five hours away from home, she had to learn how to meet deadlines, do laundry and show up for those around her. “I’ll be honest with you, I am a much better processor of time management now. I had to really look at the structure of my environment and figure out the best way to accomplish my goals,” she said. The solid foundation boarding school provided, propelled Smith-Lash forward with confidence.

By the time she arrived at Miami University, Smith-Lash had mastered the art of multitasking and was ready to nurture the seed of her business idea. “If I could balance six things between the ages of 15 and 18, I could surely balance two things between the ages of 19 and 22!” She tapped into every available resource: connecting with the university’s president, saving money to hire a student photographer for her first product shoot and recruiting fellow students to model and eventually work for her company. When college offered a more flexible schedule, she filled free hours with focused work. “I made sure that I did at least three things for my company every day.” 

Standing in the Chapel, Smith-Lash reflected on her journey (though she’s still at the beginning of it!) Only six years older than some of the students in the audience, she acknowledged the unique challenge and advantage of her age. “People don’t expect excellence out of someone who is much younger than them…what helps me is being knowledgeable, doing a little bit of research…be a little bit sharper, a little bit faster, a little bit more knowledgeable.”

But if there was one resounding message Smith-Lash wished to deliver, it was to inspire current students to see their time at Reserve as a fertile ground for growth.

“You have access to mentorship right now. Things that will get your dream off the ground,” she said. “Think of Reserve as your garden. The seeds you plant today will be the harvest of tomorrow. Don’t waste your tuition. Maximize it!”

Smith-Lash wondered aloud what seeds the students might plant. Would they be seeds of encouragement?Seeds that would be remembered positively? Because she reminded the audience, “you never know where that might lead you, and you never know when you might need to return to your garden.”

What began as a single act of love for Smith-Lash has grown into a thriving business grounded in purpose and community. Her story is proof that what students plant at Reserve can flourish well beyond Brick Row, creating a legacy of impact for years to come.