I am a person who needs people around me that have BIG dreams. Growing up in a small town surrounded by people who want the exact same lives as their parents is hard when all you want to do is get out. Don’t get me wrong, I like my hometown and going back there is always great for short periods of time, but I refuse to allow myself to get stuck there because there is a whole world to see and to me, winding up back in a tiny farming town in Minnesota is NOT the dream.
When I was in my second year at North Dakota State University, I became friends with two really amazing people, Matt and Nicole. We had worked together for a year and a half at the wellness center on campus and it took us that long to actually become friends who hung out outside of work. Becoming friends with those two was a breath of fresh air because they both have big dreams. Talking to them about what we are going to do when graduate and get jobs was fun because we all want to travel and live in other states and do big things. Matt wanted to move to NYC, live on 5th ave. in a penthouse and rule the world. Nicole wanted to move to Las Vegas or Miami and work for a professional sports team. Talking with these two about how we were all going to live in nice places and visit each other all the time made my heart happy. I was always so used to being surrounded by people who wanted to stay close to home and get married right away and start a family and that was never my plan. There are plenty of things to do in life before being married and having kids and being with people who understood that was uplifting. Having friends like these are so important if you are an adventurous soul because they are thinking the same thing. Unfortunately my time at NDSU ended shortly after becoming friends with them because I had decided to transfer to a different school before then. I don’t get to see them hardly ever but I am thankful for the time we spent whether it was carpooling home and jamming to music, making origami paper cranes, watching hockey or making meals together.
When I came to Minnesota State University, Mankato, I was able to move in with two amazing girls who I admire so much. Sometimes having roommates doesn’t go well but that has never been the case for me. My freshman year roommate at NDSU was a caring, fun and ambitious woman who I still enjoy watching flourish in all she does. My two roommates now are also AMAZING. I couldn’t have asked for better and more suitable women to live with. Having them in my life has been great because they are so motivated and I love seeing them grow. They both have great internships while working other jobs and are doing good in school. They are both in Her Campus and it has been so fun for all of us to be in it together and work on empowering women. I couldn’t have asked for better friends coming to MSU and I am incredibly lucky to have people in my life that are driven, have big dreams and encourage me to do the same.
Surrounding yourself with people who have similar goals and dreams is vital to your success because they understand what you are going through and are there to help you along the way. I would not be the person I am if it wasn’t for the exceptional friends I have made throughout the past couple years. If you don’t have these people in your life, go find them.