Savannah Nelson
Business management major (pre-optometry student) from Beulah, North Dakota
I want to get to know you
“Professors have a genuine interest in getting to know you. They get excited when you ask questions, and they encourage you to stop by and visit in their office. It shows that they care about your education.” MSUM professors have helped connect Savannah with professionals to shadow, and share internship and other opportunities.
The business of optometry
Savannah is preparing for an optometry career by taking science classes, shadowing doctors, and working in the field, but it’s a business degree that she’ll graduate with. “They don’t teach you how to run a business in optometry school, so I declared a business major, where I’ve learned a foundation for running a business and managing people that I’ll use later. Plus all of the work I’ve done on campus has been essential in training me how to communicate and supervise others.”
Her greatest lesson
Savannah developed her own management style—empowerment—by learning from MSUM staff who supervised her, first in the Admissions Office and later in the Orientation and Transition Office. “That’s how I’ve been managed and how I’ve flourished. I’ve had great campus mentors and for the past three and a half years Veronica (Coordinator of the Orientation & Transition Office) has helped me grow professionally and personally. I’ve gained confidence and direction and I hope to replicate an empowered environment for my own employees some day.”
Getting to know FM
“I love the Fargo-Moorhead area. There’s so much to do between movies, shopping, coffee shops, plays, concerts, intramurals and sports. If you want to be involved you can because there are many opportunities.”
Girls just want to have fun
“I loved living on campus! I lived in Dahl Hall my freshman year and met 20 of my best girlfriends. Six of us still live in an apartment building together. When you live on campus you’re around everything—food, activities, class, work out facilities—you don’t need to leave campus at all. Plus, it’s an awesome experience because you meet so many people and build many friendships.”
Why I love MSUM
“I really like the size and layout of our campus. This makes it easy to get around and to get to know other students quickly. As soon as I stepped foot on campus, I felt how welcoming it is and knew this was the place I wanted to spend my undergraduate years.”
Best college advice
Utilize campus. Get to know your professors. Take advantage of campus resources. Join organizations. Work on campus. “This is the place to gain experience for the real world; a training ground to gain knowledge and experience. Make the most of it.”
What you can’t do without
1. Flip flops for the shower
2. Shower caddy
3. Fun stuff for residence hall
4. Bike
“With a bike you can go most places, and if it’s too far away, the bus is free. It’s really easy once you figure it out.”
How to escape the Freshman 15
“Avoid ice cream every day in Kise. Although it is pretty tempting…”
On Savannah’s iPod
Christian music and soft rock. “Plus anything I can dance to.”