As a young girl, Smith was involved in a variety of activities including ballet, modeling, roller skating, and ice hockey.

She eventually settled on roller skating and made the United States' Junior World Inline Championships Team at age 12.

After 2007, Smith switched to short track speed skating on the ice in hopes of making the Olympics.

As of 2014, Smith holds the US National Record in the 500 meters and has won twelve World Cup medals.

Staying scrape and injury free while skating proved to be too much of a burden, so she dropped ballet, dance, and modeling.

[5] At age twelve, Smith became the youngest inline skater to make a Junior World Team.

[2] It was a tough decision – she was making a living as an inline skater and transitioning would require that she move away from her family in Metro Detroit for the first time.

[4] She moved to Salt Lake City and joined Derek Parra's Wheels on Ice Program.

According to Smith, the transition from an elite athlete in inline to a beginner in short track was difficult and "humbling".

[5] Smith briefly moved to Milwaukee to try long track speed skating, but did not like it.

"[5] She returned to Utah where national short track coach Jae Su Chun saw something in Smith that made him believe she could be elite.

Smith later called the meet the most memorable of her career, saying "I didn’t give up on myself ...[and] reminded myself that I am a champion.

"[7] The decision meant that she would receive no financial support from the United States, relying instead on her personal savings and any sponsorship money she could find.

[5] Smith's family is not wealthy, but was able to join her in Sochi, Russia, site of the 2014 Olympics, with the help of community fundraisers.

She lists speed skater Jennifer Rodriguez as her hero, and her parents as the most influential people in her life.