Make a point to connect with students year-round

Bonfire smoke filled the air of my backyard, infiltrating my clothes and hair.

It was the Saturday of Dakota Days, and roughly 20 of us were having a fantastic night.

Partaking in the parade, tailgating and watching the game, it had been the perfect day, and it wasn’t about to end.

Around 8 p.m., one of my housemates returned home (I live in a house broken up into four apartments).

Now before I tell the rest of the story, I’d like to be clear that I’m not always completely oblivious. But I do have my moments.

I invited my housemate to hang out with all of us at the bonfire, because who wouldn’t love that?

Well, it turns out he also works for The Volante, and I hadn’t put two and two together to figure out they were the same person.

Alas, they were, and I ended up feeling like a completely oblivious jerk.

Aside from feeling like a fool, I did learn to appreciate the close-knit community of Vermillion just a little bit more, particularly during Dakota Days.

As I wind down my last year at the University of South Dakota, I’ve come to value stepping out of my comfort zone and making a point to talk with as many people as possible.

We came up with a little theory here at The Volante, and it includes making every week a Dakota Days celebration.

While I realize that’s completely impossible, I can’t help but think how great this campus would be if we all took the time to appreciate one another and go out of our way to come together to have fun.

So, take the headphones out while you walk to class, and instead of scrolling through Facebook in the final seconds before lecture begins, take the time to get to know your fellow ‘Yotes.

I realize this can be intimidating, and for many this is a huge step out of the comfort zone. But that’s not an excuse.

If I had a dollar for every time I felt uncomfortable, I’d probably be a millionaire. It’s a feeling we truly just have to embrace, and I promise the rewards will outweigh the cost.

In the Vermillion community, we all live within such close proximity to each other, it seems such a shame we don’t take the time to actually talk to one another.

I can tell you that’s one of the best parts about my job. I love getting the chance to interact with students, staff and members of the Vermillion community and hear their stories.

It’s amazing what you can learn about someone in just a short amount of time.

I wouldn’t trade these years for the world, but I would trade the minutes spent staring at my phone in the classroom when I could have been learning more stories and getting to know more of you.