Hometown: Huron, SD
Major: Special & Elementary Education
Involved in: ISO (International Student Organization), SOE (School of Education), Student Admissions Representative, TRIO, and McNair Scholar.
Professors and staff walk beside you and guide you through the ups and downs of college. Who is a faculty member who has impacted you positively? How?
This is a hard question because so many faculty members positively impacted me. If I have to pick…Vicki Evans from Student Success Center!! She is such a nice person and always helps people. One of those students is me. She helps me with my biggest challenges, gives advice, makes me feel welcome, and makes me feel like I belong in Northern.
New and renovated campus facilities are world-class and inspire you to create. What is your favorite campus facility?
My favorite campus facility would be the Library. The library is such a beautiful building. They have a variety of books whether it’s children’s books or fictional. The inside structure of the library is beautiful and peaceful. It is a good place to study and look for resources.
Northern’s welcoming and safe campus community, student organizations, teams, clubs and programs give you ample opportunities to find your people. Please share a story about what you are involved in and how it has impacted your experience positively.
I am not exaggerating when I say Northern is a welcoming community and campus. There would be concerts and events downtown and everyone there is super nice. I have met so many friends on campus, not to mention the faculty. Northern is very open when it comes to what students want.
We have 45+ organizations on campus and if no club interests you, you can create your own, and that is what I like about NSU.
Regarding organization or program, I am involved in ISO (International Student Organization), SOE (School of Education), Trio, and McNair Scholar. Every student will find places they belong here at Northern.
Aberdeen, South Dakota is a safe and friendly community with a thriving downtown with plenty of opportunities to get involved through the arts, athletics, and outdoor recreation. Please share an example of a time you had fun in Aberdeen:
There are so many places to explore outside of campus. I will give a short list of fun times I have in Aberdeen. I go to the local ice cream place called Twist Cone, bowling, rolling/ice skating, Storybook Land, Wylie Park, movie theater, downtown shops/concerts/museum, and all the restaurants. Aberdeen may be a small town but there are so many fun things to do with family and friends!
Professors and staff care about you and are dedicated to helping you learn and grow as a person. Please share a story that relates and how it positively impacted you:
An education teacher who impacted me positively would be Dr. Cheng Hsien Wu. I have only known Dr. Wu for one year since she moved here from Oklahoma. Even though we only knew each other for one year, she has impacted me in many ways. She has helped me grow by giving advice and being my role model. Dr. Wu showed me to always have a positive attitude, never give up, learn every step I take, show interest, and be kind to others and myself. She finds time out of her schedule to help me by sharing all these amazing roles, advice, and experiences. I am so grateful for meeting her!
Explore your interests with a campus community who takes the time to get to know you and connect you to new adventures. Please share an example of your experience:
On campus I will go to all the events/activities each organization holds. Some examples are pickleball, all sports games (basketball, volleyball, football, etc.), all CAB events (Twist Cone, bowling, etc.), Native American programs, etc. There are a lot of fun things to do on campus and in the community. Most organizations will host their events in the Aberdeen community and I would meet so many people and make connections. That stark new adventure to explore Aberdeen itself.
What is your favorite thing/activity to do in Aberdeen?
I would say going to Wylie Park & Storybook Land. I love nature and it is so peaceful there. I go to Wylie Park to have a picnic with friends, walk and explore little animals and plants. I go to Storybook Land to enjoy all of the fairytale creatures and take pictures.
What is/are your favorite restaurant(s) or shopping location(s) in Aberdeen?
My favorite restaurant in Aberdeen would be Dulces Hispanic Store. This place is a Hispanic store and restaurant which I love because you can go shopping for food and order delicious food. I recommend anyone who wants to try Mexican food because it is 10 out of 10! Once I finish my food, I go buy homemade bread and it is always the best!
A favorite memory with my friends on campus:
My favorite memories on campus with friends would be attending all the events and activities. I always have a great time and laugh. Events would be football/basketball/volleyball games. Activities would be pickleball, free ice cream (Twist Cone), bowling, skating, painting canvas, going to music concerts, and theater plays.
My best piece of advice for students considering NSU?
NSU is a place for you. If you are still looking for belonging, Northern is the ONE. I love NSU because I can be who I am without being judged. I love exploring, adventures, hiking, music, cooking, meeting new people, and nature. Not to mention I consider myself weird. To me, weird is different and good. My friends, professors, and faculty accept me and love me for me. Here at Northern, I have found my sense of belonging.
The person I look up to is…
The person I look up to is my older sister Yoko. She is my role model, a friend, and my supporter. Yoko is a person who inspires and motivates others and me. She never gives up on me and will take time out of her day to check up on me.
One of my bucket list items is…
One of my bucket lists is to start swimming and not to be afraid of the ocean. Because I fear the ocean, I fear to swim. I am slowly getting there. I have been practicing swimming little by little but I assume I will check this off my bucket list in 15 years.