Freshman versus senior

What is the primary purpose of attending college?

The most common responses include to gain more knowledge in the particular field one is pursuing, become involved, make connections, and, of course, to attend college for the experience.

While all of these reasons are highly important, college is about growth and watching friends and family mature into the responsible adults they hope to become.

Two students from Page - one a freshman, one a senior - talk about the college experience and how the years differ from the first days as a freshman to the final semesters as a senior.

Madison Melcher is a freshman attending college at South Dakota State University for agriculture education, with a minor in animal science.

"I chose SDSU because of the 'small town' feel Brookings has and the awesome scholarship opportunities," Melcher said.

She is looking forward to creating new friendships, learning how to grow up a little more and getting involved with SDSU's ag program to help out with the annual livestock show, Little International.

"I am so excited to start this new chapter of my life, but I am also a little nervous moving away from home and family," she explained.

Melcher said she struggled to make sure she had everything she wanted in her dorm room and spent many hours talking with her roommate to make sure nothing was doubled up. While this was a small obstacle, Melcher added that she knew she always wanted to travel out of state for college.

"I have always heard great things about SDSU and fell in love when I went on a tour, so it was a pretty easy choice for me," she said. "Trying to decide which major was a little more difficult."

Melcher always wanted to be a veterinarian, but once she was given the opportunity to job shadow a vet, she found she didn't enjoy it as she had once thought.

"Senior year, I was lucky enough to have an amazing ag teacher, Mr. Goldfuss, who allowed me to be his teacher's assistant," Melcher explained. "With this experience, I found that I have a passion for teaching and decided to study agriculture education in college."

Melcher plans on being focused on her grades and friendships while in college.

"While I hope to still be focused on these (aspects) my senior year of college, I think that I will want to be finding a place to settle down and start my career," she said.

Tommie Peed is a senior social science major at Wayne State College.

During these last few semesters, he is looking forward to graduating and creating more stories during his last time at WSC.

How does he feel about his last year in college?

"It is alright, just starting a new chapter," he said, noting he has many emotions right now about getting an "adult" job after college. He is excited, anxious and happy.

Peed has stayed busy in college by getting involved with intramural sports and he hopes to participate more this year.

He acknowledged that college life can be a bit more challenging than high school and that he had to reach certain skills over the years and work hard for his grades. He also said he has become more mature while progressing through college and has less of the "class-clown" mentality he had in high school.

"It's been the best year so far," Peed said.

As graduation will be quickly approaching, he is ready, but also sad, to move on. Future plans include landing a job and his own place.

Peed offered words of wisdom for college freshmen, "Keep it up and try not to quit, just keep going."