Four Years Later

I am a third-generation NDSU student. My grandpa graduated from NDSU in 1967 and my dad graduated in 1994. My older brother graduated from NDSU in 2023 and my sister is an up-and-coming NDSU alumna as she’ll graduate with the class of 2029. I myself graduated with my psychology degree this past fall, and while I have been taking a class to finish a certificate in professional writing this current semester, I am also preparing for my next three years at NDSU.

I suppose it is cliche to mention that four years ago, graduating high school and moving into college, life looks far different than I imagined. I feel that I have grown so much personally, professionally and academically in the past four years.

To give a taste of where I was four years ago, I was graduating high school (and getting my wisdom teeth removed about two weeks later) and planning to attend the NDSCS Fargo campus for general studies, since I wasn’t sure what I wanted to major in.

Plot twist: that summer before college started, I reapplied to NDSU for their psychology program. Another last-minute decision later, and I changed my major to exercise science before the semester even began.

There were more changes I made to my academics. Six changes of my major later and two years into school, I had finally landed back in psychology to stay.

Moral of the story: don’t worry so much about what you think you’re going to do with your life. If you’re unsure, you can change your major. Students do it all the time, and if I survived six academic shifts before I was even a junior, then there is nothing to be ashamed of if you find something else that works better than what you planned for.

I still managed to finish my bachelor’s in three and a half years, despite changing paths so many times. At this time last year, I was nearing the end of my internship at the Cass County State’s Attorney’s Office and studying for my LSAT, which I took in August of 2025. I wanted to become an attorney, a career path that still intrigues me. However, as fall semester began, I started to realize that feasibly, staying in Fargo was a better option for my life.

My entire family is in Fargo. My parents and siblings all live, work and attend school here. I have other close family members a short drive away, and all my friends are in town. Leaving and going to a new school, a new town and making a new life, all while trying to pay for law school and finding time to complete schoolwork, seemed like a bit of a stretch from where I was last fall. I knew I wanted to continue my education, but I wasn’t sure of what to do anymore.

Enter NDSU graduate school: I started working on my application in October of 2025, with applications due in February of 2026. Fortunately, I had already taken a counseling class during my junior year, and I had a decent idea of how to apply. I didn’t know anyone who had applied to in-person master’s programs, completed the required interviews and essays or who knew anything about counseling programs, save for my professors. It was a learning experience, and believe me, I learned a lot in a few short months.

Moral of the story: don’t get overly stressed about what you’re doing after graduation. I was a few months away from graduating with no full-time job or continued education lined up. I should also extend special thanks to my parents, who are more than willing to support me as I keep figuring out my life!

To give a summary of my last semester of my undergrad: I applied for Clinical Mental Health Counseling at NDSU, I job hunted and I wanted to stay on campus for the semester after graduation so I could keep my student jobs, if all else failed. I was working three jobs, volunteering once a week and going to school. When I realized I was only one class away from getting a professional writing certificate, I jumped at registering for one class to stay on campus. Now I needed another job.

As it turns out, the elementary school I had been working childcare for had an opening for a preschool aide starting in January 2026, right after graduation. I am forever grateful and blessed to have gotten such a last-minute job that was willing to work with my one in-person class. I was able to keep my student jobs, have a full-time position and still finish my certificate.

It has been a wild ride at NDSU, and there’s a lot more I could add, but I really want all future and current Bison to understand that college is a place to help you figure life out, not have it all figured out. Four years later, and I am still humbled and thankful for all that this school experience has taught me.

Takeaways I hope everyone can learn from college: You will fail. Life will not go as you planned. Some things are hard, but giving up is worse.

I have loved my time here at NDSU, and I am looking forward to continuing my education here. Starting in the fall of 2026, I will be beginning my first semester of Clinical Mental Health Counseling here at NDSU. I know this will be another set of learning new skills and new experiences, both in and out of the classroom. Here’s to another year at NDSU!