Quickly, say the first thing that comes to mind when thinking of South Dakota. Go on, I’ll wait….

Your thought process probably goes something like this.

“Do people really live there?”

“Don’t they ride buffalo or horses there?”

“Do you have electricity, cars or even plumbing up there?”

Believe it or not, we do have all of these things, and more. In fact, we even have a few universities, which may be a surprise to most of you, as well as other colleges and technical schools.

I attend the biggest South Dakota university, South Dakota State University, and let me tell you, it’s the best decision I’ve ever made. Attending a large school has been an eye-opening experience for me, in terms of finding out who I am and what I want to do with life after college.

However, I never used to think of this establishment so highly. In fact, I really didn’t like being a part of it. During the first semester, I felt so lonely, so different, so out of place. I didn’t know where to turn, and it’s all because of one aspect of the school I was never able to relate to/understand.

SDSU is primarily an agricultural based university.

I, on the other hand, do not fall into this majority of Ag students on campus. My majors are Journalism and Pre-Law. I’m learning a foreign language. I work in retail. I rarely eat meat and I’ve started cutting out all dairy products from my diet. I have no intentions of doing anything agriculturally based.

Now, keep in mind that, since I am from South Dakota originally, I do understand what agriculture and farming is. I do know the difference between a tractor and a combine. And I do know that South Dakota produces a large amount of the country’s agricultural products.

But, I soon found out I was not as informed as I thought. According to the South Dakota Department of Agriculture, we’re the fourth leading producer of wheat production in the country. This source also states we are the second leading producer of oats in the country.

South Dakota State University, in fact, produces its own ice cream, and invented the flavor “Cookies and Cream.” Our homecoming football game is the biggest one-day event in the Dakotas, both North and South. There is so much to SDSU that many people do not realize.

Which is exactly why I decided to stay.

I realized that I don’t have to major in Agricultural Business, or Agronomy or anything remotely close to that to feel like I belong. I don’t have to own cows or be on the equestrian team to feel at home here. I simply have to do my best, follow my heart and act on my own instincts.

It’s wonderful to be able to sit next to someone in class knowing they are here for the same reasons you are: to pass the class, get a degree and branch off into the world. Knowing that I sit in a classroom filled with people of all different majors, yearning for the end goal is remarkable, and establishes comradery. I am proud to attend SDSU because I’ve learned to love the importance of diversity, in terms of interests and passions.

It’s okay to want different things. It’s okay to see things differently. It does not make you pretentious, ungrateful or even oblivious. It simply means your brain does not operate quite the same, and it’s taken me a few years to realize I’d only be cheating myself if I didn’t believe what I believe, or see what I see.

Bottom line, do not let trivial beliefs lead you astray. Go with your gut and keep your own future in mind. After all, you are the only one who knows how to make yourself truly happy.