Smith told a story about asking her friend and mentor William Burroughs — the iconic Beat writer — what she should aspire to. 'My dear, a gold American Express would be good,' Burroughs replied first. Then he said something more thoughtful: 'Build your name.' When Smith protested that her name was 'Smith,' Burroughs told her she'd 'have to build a little harder.' But Burroughs wasn't talking about celebrity or fame. He was talking about character — about becoming someone whose name meant something, whose reputation was earned through deeds rather than marketing. Smith had spent forty years building her name in exactly that way: through uncompromising art, fierce independence, and a refusal to sell out. The advice was especially apt for Pratt graduates entering the arts, where your name is ultimately all you have.