Samantha Smith

==Life==

==Life==

Samantha Smith was born on June 29, 1972, in the small town of [[Houlton, Maine]], on the [[Canada–United States border]], to Jane Goshorn<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.hollins.edu/175th-anniversary/distinguished-graduates/jane-goshorn-smith/ |title= Jane Goshorn Smith |website= Hollins |access-date= 2020-02-19 |archive-date= 2020-02-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200219005830/https://www.hollins.edu/175th-anniversary/distinguished-graduates/jane-goshorn-smith/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> and Arthur Smith. At the age of five, she wrote a letter to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] in order to express her admiration to the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]]. When Smith had finished second grade in spring 1980, the family settled in [[Manchester, Maine]], where she attended Manchester Elementary School. Her father served as an instructor at [[Ricker College]] in Houlton<ref>Wright, Bruce (2007–2011) "[http://rickerscholarship.com/history.htm Ricker College: A Small School in A Big County]", Ricker College Trustees. Retrieved on February 6, 2015.</ref> before teaching literature and writing at the [[University of Maine at Augusta]]<ref name= "time836">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202041719/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923608-2,00.html Pen Pals]". ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, May 9, 1983. Retrieved on April 14, 2008.</ref> while her mother worked as a [[Social work|social worker]] with the Maine Department of Human Services.<ref>{{cite web | last=Martínez | first=Alonso | title=Samantha Smith: the schoolgirl who became "America's Youngest Peace Ambassador" | website=EL PAÍS English | date=7 July 2023 | url=https://english.elpais.com/usa/2023-07-07/samantha-smith-the-schoolgirl-who-became-americas-youngest-peace-ambassador.html | access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>

Samantha Smith was born on June 29, 1972, in the small town of [[Houlton, Maine]], on the [[Canada–United States border]], to Jane Goshorn<ref>{{Cite web |url= https://www.hollins.edu/175th-anniversary/distinguished-graduates/jane-goshorn-smith/ |title= Jane Goshorn Smith |website= Hollins |access-date= 2020-02-19 |archive-date= 2020-02-19 |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20200219005830/https://www.hollins.edu/175th-anniversary/distinguished-graduates/jane-goshorn-smith/ |url-status= dead }}</ref> and Arthur Smith. At the age of five, she wrote a letter to [[Queen Elizabeth II]] (whose [[Silver Jubilee of Elizabeth II|reign's silver jubilee]] fell in 1977) in order to express her admiration to the [[Monarchy of the United Kingdom|British monarch]]. When Smith had finished second grade in spring 1980, the family settled in [[Manchester, Maine]], where she attended Manchester Elementary School. Her father served as an instructor at [[Ricker College]] in Houlton<ref>Wright, Bruce (2007–2011) "[http://rickerscholarship.com/history.htm Ricker College: A Small School in A Big County]", Ricker College Trustees. Retrieved on February 6, 2015.</ref> before teaching literature and writing at the [[University of Maine at Augusta]]<ref name= "time836">"[https://web.archive.org/web/20081202041719/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,923608-2,00.html Pen Pals]". ''[[Time (magazine)|Time]]'' magazine, May 9, 1983. Retrieved on April 14, 2008.</ref> while her mother worked as a [[Social work|social worker]] with the Maine Department of Human Services.<ref>{{cite web | last=Martínez | first=Alonso | title=Samantha Smith: the schoolgirl who became "America's Youngest Peace Ambassador" | website=EL PAÍS English | date=7 July 2023 | url=https://english.elpais.com/usa/2023-07-07/samantha-smith-the-schoolgirl-who-became-americas-youngest-peace-ambassador.html | access-date=10 December 2024}}</ref>

In November 1982, when Smith was 10 years old, she wrote to Soviet leader [[Yuri Andropov]], seeking to understand why [[Soviet Union–United States relations]] were so tense:

In November 1982, when Smith was 10 years old, she wrote to Soviet leader [[Yuri Andropov]], seeking to understand why [[Soviet Union–United States relations]] were so tense: