Plethora

My speech -Version 1

April 22nd, 2006

Hello,

Being born and raised on the warm, sandy beaches of Big Stone City, South Dakota, with a population of 600, Marshall became appealing because it was a “big town”. Come on, are you kidding me? They have a wal-mart, a McDonald’s, and a mall! Well, an attempt at a mall, but a mall nonetheless.

My collegiate journey began at South Dakota State Univeristy. After a year of livestock jokes and theorizing what it truly means to be a kernel of corn, I came to SMSU.

By a complete coincidence much to my parents denial, it happened to be the exact same college my girlfriend, Lindsey Nelsen, a graduating biology and chemistry student, attended. One day I was walking down the hall and bumped into her and said, “Hey, aren’t we dating…currently?” and she said, “Yes, shall we countinue our courtship?” and I said, “Sure.” So that went well.

Many of us had some knowledge of Marshall before coming here. What job opportunities there were, what the community was like, and what Marshall was really all about. Apparently, and this may blow some of you graduates away, but Schwan’s, you know with the yellow truck and ice cream? Yeah, that was started here! I know, no one had any idea, right? And yes, that is a joke.

Many of us at SMSU have chosen to give back to the community. Some through activities like, “Big Buddy”, while others chose to help Marshall financially. I feel a sense of pride believing I helped pay for at least one new police car. Looking back I like to think that those were two of the most expensive beers I’ve ever had.

SMSU really has been great though.  There are many benefits I see more clearly having gone elsewhere then transfering in.  For example,  at SDSU I can remember rolling out of bed and walking to class a half a mile away in February with tears frozen to my face.  Here, you get into the nearest building  and your safe from the cold.  With less outside time during winter I could be as lazy and unprepared for class as I see necessary.  I could show up in my pajamas.  Not always a good thing since I sleep in my underwear, but I feel people get used to it.

I also grew to appreciate the teacher-to-student ratio at SMSU.  I could have a relationship beyond the professor just knowing where I sit each day and my student ID number for roll.  This isnt’ always a good thing when you need to sleep-in because your hangover from “studying” all night the day before causes you to miss class.  Teachers see you and they know, their like parents, they see right through you.

When I heard SMSU was great because everything was connected by tunnels I couldn’t picture 1.) why that was a good thing, and 2.) who did they hire to make these tunnels, the Vietcong?

I learned that by tunnels they mean hallways and yes, they are very nice.

From here some of us will jump right into the job market, some will go onto Graduate school, and from there many may go on further to get their Fffffdddd’s.  Er.  PhD, that is, to become a doctor.

But in all seriousness, whenever I’m worried that SMSU is just a little Midwest college and what can a degree from here get me?  I think of some of the inspirational professors have and their wisdom has been that we are just as capable of great things than students from bigger schools.  Our work ethic, our intelligence, and our glowing personalities propel us to great futures.  So thank you SMSU for giving us the tools, the courage, and the guidance we need to begin our new lives.

And thank you Marshall for the ice cream.

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