It All Started With A Hunting Trip

It all started with an annual hunting trip from Mora, Minnesota to Wilton, North Dakota. Doyle, Dan (my dad), and I finished packing our supplies late into the night; by 4:30 a.m. the next morning, we were headed west in the hopes of finding some pheasants.

I was being recruited to play basketball, so my dad wanted to show respect towards the coaches and mentioned, “They’ve shown interest in you Samuel, you should really show interest back”.

So, we stopped for a visit on the way through Jamestown, and WOW, love at first sight!

The immense brick buildings, the tall swaying trees, and the stressed college kids filled the campus as we drove up. As cliché as it sounds, it felt like home.

Freshman year went by like a blur.

I was trying to understand college basketball, trying to figure out study routines, and trying to make new friends. Fortunately, all of this settled without too many bumps in the road. I finally had a new family after only nine months!

Before I knew it, sophomore year was over, and more memories were made.

However, some of these memories had not been fun. I broke my foot and my ACL said “goodbye” within those first two years at UJ – but everyone on campus encouraged me to “keep grinding”.

My new family continued to grow during these hardships…

Now, as I wrap up my senior year at the University of Jamestown, I can’t help but think how much this University and new family has meant to me.

I’ve made friends that will be my friends forever. I’ve made relationships with staff and administration that will be remembered forever. I’ve had a Jimmie family for four years, and now I’ll have a Jimmie family forever.