Did I Pick the Right Major? An Exercise Science Major’s Perspective

Hi Everyone!

My name is Bri Whitaker and I am a freshman here at SMSU. I am from Brookings, SD where I graduated from Brookings High School. I am an SMSU Ambassador, a member on the SMSU Dance Team, and I am a student worker in the Admission Office. I am majoring in Exercise Science-Emphasis A.

Starting your first day of senior year in high school, people will begin asking you where you are going to college, what are you going to major in, have you looked at this school, etc. It can get annoying, but it really does make you consider all of your options. Brookings High School offers a variety of classes to help students experience the fields they are thinking about pursuing a career in. My junior year of high school I took a class called Health Science Careers 2. This class allowed me to learn medical terms, abbreviations, and I had a six week internship at two different facilities. Taking this class helped me decide that I wanted to go into the medical field. I didn’t know exactly which profession I was going to pursue, but I knew the medical field was right for me. 

My senior year of high school I took Human Anatomy. On the first day of class, my teacher had us go around the room and say what profession we wanted to go into. When it got to me, I still wasn’t sure but I said nursing. After taking a full year of anatomy, I was able to learn all of the bones of the body, the muscles of the body, and all of the body’s systems. On the last day of class, we did the same thing and went around the room saying what professions we wanted to go into. When it got to me, I said Physical Therapy.

Here I am, second semester of college, and I am an Exercise Science major. I am majoring in Emphasis A, which is Allied Health. The Exercise Science major has three emphases: A, B, and C. Emphasis A is your allied health professions such as Occupational Therapy, Physical Therapy, and Dietitians. Emphasis B is your corporate wellness/exercise leadership professions. Emphasis C is your coaching and human performance professions. As of right now, I am pursuing a career in Pediatric Physical Therapy. I have chosen Pediatric Physical Therapy because I love working with kids and I love learning new ways to help improve body movement.

My advice is to anyone considering a career in the medical field is to explore your options. There are so many different professions in the medical field. Even if you’re unsure you want to major in Exercise Science or any medical related majors, take a few classes that meet those major requirements. If you decide you don’t like the classes and that major isn’t for you, it’s always nice to have those credits.

Good luck in exploring your major choices and have a great semester!

Bri Whitaker 

Choosing the Right Major: Ben's Story

Hello! My name is Ben, and I’m a sophomore here at SMSU! I’m originally from North Mankato, MN, and I graduated from Mankato West High School. I am an athlete here at SMSU, running cross-country and track, and I am also a student worker in the Admission office.

My major is Professional Writing and Communication, and I am minoring in Public Administration. The PWC major is an English major with emphasis in professional writing styles, such as technical writing. We also take courses in public speaking and graphic design. 

Originally, I came to SMSU to study communications and political science, but after meeting with the English professor in my freshman writing course, I was inspired to switch majors, and I’m super happy I did. The communications and political science programs are great too, I just found my passion in professional writing. 

As a PWC major, I’m able to develop my skills as a writer, and apply those skills to my career interests. I want to work in local and state government, so I added the Public Administration minor to work towards that goal. 

PWC students are often involved with clubs on campus, such as the SMSU English club, and The Spur (SMSU’s campus newspaper). Any student from any major can join The Spur, and students can actually get paid to write for it.

PWC students can also study areas such as graphic design, management, natural sciences, exercise science, marketing, and broadcasting & digital media. Graduates from the program have found careers in marketing, publishing, journalism, and technical writing, If you’re interested in a flexible major that has a wide array of career opportunities, check out the PWC major!

Hannah's SMSU Journey: A Psychology Major's Perspective

Hey Future Mustangs!

I hope everyone had a great holiday season and is back in the swing of things. I don’t know about you guys, but I am ready for spring. It is right around the corner! My name is Hannah Kuno and I am a Psychology major and Justice Administration minor and I think that SMSU has really been one of the best decisions I have ever made. I am originally from Montevideo, Minnesota, which is only 45 minutes from Marshall. I was looking for a school that was close to home and I only seriously looked at two schools. When I came for my first visit, I could tell that this is where I wanted to be and where I wanted to further my education.

I originally was undecided when I came to campus. I had no idea what I wanted to do for a major nor a career. It was hard for me when everyone was asking “What are you majoring in?” and “What do you want to do after college?” These are the two biggest decisions that a high school senior has to make in the last few months before graduation. My first few semesters on campus, I took general classes in just about every area. I really enjoyed my Psychology and Justice classes so that is why I chose to pursue a Psychology major and Justice minor.

There are many options available for Psychology majors. They can go to grad school right after they receive their bachelor's degree, or they can find a job and work for a few years and they will still have the possibility of going back to school and furthering their education. Because I am graduating in December of 2017, I am seriously thinking about my options. As of right now, I am looking at getting a job after I graduate, working for a few years, and keeping the possibility of grad school as an option for later down the road.

As a part time job, I am employed at New Horizons Crisis Center. I help with a program called Parenting Time, which is a program for parents who have lost custody of their children and need supervised visits. I am hoping that this job will help me get my feet wet in the area that I would like to go into because I am considering pursuing a career in child protection. In my opinion, this is a very hard job but a very important one. With a Psychology major, someone could go into just about anything that deals with people (which is almost any job out there). Having many options with this major is very helpful, especially for someone who is unsure of what they are wanting to do for a career.

I also work in the Admission office on campus, and I get to give tours to prospective students. This is one of my favorite parts of my job in the office because I get to talk about why I chose SMSU and why it is a great place to be. Working with people is definitely a passion of mine.

 I feel as though SMSU really helped me in breaking out of my shell and becoming a more outgoing person. This will help me for when I get job interviews and also in aspects of my career. I enjoy working with and interacting with people. By getting involved at SMSU, you can meet tons of different people. I am involved in the Ambassador program and I am also an Orientation Leader. Being able to share my experiences with incoming students like yourself is what really keeps me going.

My biggest advice that I would give to someone that is undecided and is not sure what he or she would like to do is, start with doing everything and narrow it down from there. You will not know what you like and do not like if you do not try it! Take chances and make the best of it.

Good luck in everything you do!
Hannah Kuno

My Life as a Mustang: An Education Major’s Perspective

Hello!

My name is Wilson Ebner and I am currently a senior at Southwest Minnesota State University (SMSU); I am majoring in Elementary Education, Special Education, and Teaching English as a Second Language, with a Reading minor. I graduated from Rosemount High School in 2013, and I then moved to Marshall, MN to start college at SMSU.

At Southwest Minnesota State University, I have been provided with many unexpected opportunities. For example, we have a club called Education Minnesota Student Program (EMSP), which is not only a club that helps Education majors find professional development opportunities, connect with other Education majors and grow as aspiring educators on the SMSU campus, but it also provides these same opportunities on the state level with Education Minnesota, and on the national level with the National Education Association. During my sophomore year, I volunteered to be the Vice-President of EMSP on the campus of SMSU and a month later, I was elected President.

Wilson Ebner’s first National Education Association Board

 meeting with another Minnesota representative, Ellen

My year as SMSU EMSP President was an amazing experience, and little did I know the even more amazing opportunities I would be presented with: on June 30, 2016 in Washington, D.C., I was elected to represent 50,000 aspiring educators on the national level as a Student Representative on the National Education Association’s Board of Directors. I am currently 6 months into my term. For this position, I fly around the country about 9-10 times during the year, going to conferences, meeting the members that I represent, and attending the board meetings to help make influential decisions for the future of education.

SMSU Education students Clay Flesner and Wilson Ebner, Dr. Wendy Schoolmeester, and SMSU Alumni and 

NEA Student Chair 2014-2016 Chelsey Herrig in Washington, D.C. at the Student Leadership Conference

You’re probably reading this wondering why I am talking about my position and myself. I do want to tell you why SMSU was right for me and prepared me to be the best teacher I can be. Four years ago, I was absolutely terrified about picking the right school for my future. I wanted a school that would prepare me to take on a classroom of students all on my own and not come home crying because I messed up a lesson. I learned from SMSU that failure in education is the best thing that can happen to you! It becomes a teachable moment.

SMSU places you in an area school your freshman year for 15 hours to begin the practice. In the past two years, I believe that I have spent more time in an elementary school than the university. This is something rare and not many schools around the country allow their students to be in a school freshman year, first semester.

SMSU also has some of the best, nicest, funniest Education professors; I mean it! We occupy an entire 2^nd floor of a building and part of the 1^st floor as well because we have so many amazing professors. They are constantly in their offices when not teaching so you are able to pop right on in and say hi and ask questions. Not once in my life have I had more support from teachers/professors. One even flew to DC with me to support me on my campaign for NEA Board.

Dr. Wendy Schoolmeester, Dr. Sonya Vierstrate, and Wilson Ebner
eating doughnuts at our Alumni tent before the Homecoming parade

The curriculum at SMSU in the Education Department really makes you think and pushes you to grow into the best teacher. Over the past year, I have had 3 job offers from schools around the Marshall area that want me to come teach in their district after graduation. As an Education student at SMSU, you can feel confident that you will be well-prepared for a career in education.

As I am finishing up my last semester of classes before student teaching, I am amazed by how much information I have learned and used in the classroom over these past four years. The Education Department absolutely prepares you to be the best teacher you can be.

Picking and starting college will be scary at first. If you’re like me, you will question if you made the right choice up until move in day. From the moment I moved in freshman year, I knew I had made the right decision. Being an Education major at SMSU has been the most rewarding experience of my life and I really love every moment of it. I know you will too! 

Welcome Back Mustangs! Aaron's Major Decisions!

Greetings Mustangs!

I hope everyone had a great break and you were all able to spend some quality time with the ones you care about! I have a lot to tell all of you so sit back, relax, and get ready to understand why I chose my major(s), and some of my many wonderful experiences here at SMSU!

For me, choosing my major was all about picking something that fit me and my way of life. I wanted to find something I enjoyed doing, but could also become successful at. Picking a major is not an easy decision, as there is a lot to consider. You have to have something in mind that you will enjoy and cherish for a long time. You have to pick something that you can be proud of. Coming into college, I was an Exercise Science major, and I have since added a Broadcasting and Digital Media double major. I chose Exercise Science because of my interest in the sciences and the endless job options that are associated with that. As far as Broadcast and Digital Media, I have always been told I have a good voice and was made for radio. After taking TV production last fall, I was sold: I knew I wanted to also major in that field.

Experiences have been aplenty here at SMSU. I have been able to take advantage of many opportunities including: LLPA of Lakota Living and Learning Community, SMSU Admissions Office Student Worker, SMSU Ambassador, Vice-President of Exercise Science Club, SMSU Football and Basketball productions, having my own radio show, and many others! There is so much to do and be a part of here at SMSU! The opportunities are there for anyone willing to put themselves out there!

Believe in Brown,

Aaron Bible