Dustin Johnson advises Girls State delegates to be successful, work hard

By Anna Eggers

Dustin Johnson hoped to encourage Girls State delegates to aim high for success Tuesday.

Johnson spoke at the morning session of the general assembly.

He is the former Public Utilities Commissioner and Chief of Staff for Governor Dennis Daugaard and currently the Vice President of Vantage Point Solutions.

Johnson said “speaking to Girls State is always a real honor” to him.

An accentuated point in Johnson’s speech was how important success is.

He said rich, successful people are 12 times more likely to listen to audio books on their way to work. Another fact stated was that more successful people are more likely to have a better body mass index and eat less junk food.

Johnson said, “Sometimes you just have to do what feels right,” or when going through a frustrating time in life, “just finish that race even when it is extremely difficult to do so.”

When the citizen panel asked Johnson questions, they first asked, “What is your best life advice?”

Johnson replied with two words: hard work.

Johnson stressed the importance of how far hard work can take a person and that doing a little extra really isn’t difficult.

Jen Hurlbert from Cleveland said she liked that Johnson said to “try something new and don’t be afraid.”

After reminiscing his bright and frightening moments of high school, Johnson first said people should remember to respect each other and to try to take those people along in life.

Lily Larsen of St. Louis said she enjoyed Johnson’s “real-world experiences” and his “real insight on how the real world is.”

He also spoke about his high school life and how he regretted not standing up for one girl in his class who was constantly picked on, singled out and teased.

“If you are a mean person in high school, it will probably carry on with you forever,” he said. “Be a good person, or you will regret it.”

At his previous job, Johnson was two hours apart from his family on several nights a week.

“I needed to be with my family more,” Johnson said. “Sometimes reading a bedtime story at night is the most important thing I can be doing at the time.”

He said it was a tough decision to leave the side of Governor Daugaard, but it was the best decision for him in order to have a balance between both his career and his family.

To close the session, Girls State delegates appreciatively gave Johnson their signature Girls State thank you.