When Laycee Kluin was growing up in Sioux Falls, she knew that she wanted to go to college close to home, but she wasn't sure where. When she toured USF, she knew she was right where she wanted to be.
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Why USF?
"I felt like it was very community-driven," said Kluin. "I loved the idea of the small classrooms. It means a lot when someone knows your name when you show up to class, and they care about you outside of class."
When she arrived on campus as a first-year student, she remembered being shy and scared of what life would bring.
But that would change when opportunity after opportunity was offered to her.
"When I think about USF in three words, I would say 'pushing people further,'" Kluin said.
University Experience
In her junior year after interning in marketing, she landed a part-time job while she was still in school. Kluin recalled getting a lot of value out of that because she was able to work with faculty at USF to tailor her school work to become even better at her job. Creating real applications for the school work propelled her progress forward.
"They really encourage everyone to find something that they actually want to pursue," said Kluin.
During her college experience, Kluin explained that finding her passions went beyond a few clubs. USF worked to meet her and others where they were and find something for them to get involved in.
And if there wasn't something that fit, students and USF would work together to create something that did. Perhaps the most help in her career of choice, however, were the networking and people skills she developed.
"I think about the impact that the relationships I've made at USF have had on me," she said.
Kluin recalled that her memorable connections went beyond her friends on campus and extended to faculty and staff, who were there to help her find opportunities and chase the dreams she was developing.
"That relationship aspect of USF is really important, and I don't think that you can get that everywhere," she added.
More Than an Education
After graduating, Kluin found herself working as a digital marketing strategist at MarketBeat in downtown Sioux Falls. In addition, she started getting involved in the community with organizations like the Young Professionals Network, where she's vice chair, and volunteering for nonprofits like Junior Achievement and EmBe.
"Sioux Falls has so many opportunities, whether that's being involved by volunteering, internship opportunities, or getting connected with the business leaders that you will be working with someday," explained Kluin.
Her connections at USF helped her to become a core part of the community, and when she recalled USF, she explained receiving messages like this: "We're going to help you find your footing. We're going to help you find opportunities in the community."
