Looking back, moving forward

June is a busy month for many.

For most June signals the start of summer, warmer months, and a break from a normal routine. As for me, June marks a month of me officially being done with college.

For those that don’t know, I have been attending South Dakota State University in Brookings, South Dakota for the past 4 years. There I have made countless memories, friendships, and got an exceptional education.

While earning a degree was a primary goal when first arriving in south dakota. The most enjoyable part of university was the people I met along the way.

Some of my favorite memories are from this past year. I lived with three of my closest friends. Sitting on the living room couch, watching movies, and as girls do, gossiping. My parents have always been supportive of my aspirations, even when they may have not agreed with me. I don’t think those 4 years would have been as smooth without support from my family.

Coming home during the long winter breaks was always bitter sweet. Getting a long break from the constant homework and exams. While also being able to help my dad around the farm. While we lived in Hayfield, I helped on a local dairy farm in Byron, Terra McCree Holsteins, during breaks I would come back and do calf chores. During those years the owner, Kevin Connelly, taught me many life lessons, some of which are valuable, some of which have gone in one ear and out the other.

College taught me more than what I learned in classrooms. It taught me resilience during difficult weeks, patience when plans changed, and the importance of the people who supported me along the way. Some of the most meaningful lessons happened outside lectures — in conversations with friends, late nights studying, moments of failure, and moments of growth I didn’t recognize until later.

If I were to take any life lesson from school that I use in my job today is connections. Having connections with locals, industry leaders, and friendships. As working in a news reporting job. Having those connections can make or break a person.

Looking back, I realize graduation isn’t just about earning a degree. It’s about becoming someone different from the person who first arrived on campus. The version of me leaving college carries more confidence, more perspective, and a clearer understanding of what matters.

June now represents transition. Not an ending, but a beginning.

There’s pressure to have everything figured out after graduation, but learning that growth rarely happens in certainty. Sometimes the next chapter starts with questions instead of answers.

As this month moves forward, I want to appreciate the milestone instead of rushing past it. College was challenging, memorable, exhausting, and transformative all at once. I’ll carry those experiences with me into whatever comes next.

For now, June is a reminder that change can be both intimidating and exciting — and that stepping into the unknown is part of moving forward.