What Makes Montana Students so Special?
Montana is unlike any other and so are its students and graduates. Chances are likely that if you are, or were, a student here, there is something that separates you from the norm. What makes you stand out is your love for nature, your desire for outdoor activities, and the search for a healthy life balance. You see Montana as a land of opportunity for self-development and growth. You also chose to attend a university where you are able to grow in your career. Most importantly though, your being in Montana means that you became more than just a resident, you became part of the community that never stops giving back.
If you are in Montana right now, take a step back and notice how less materialistic you are. The positive effects of the surrounding nature are humanizing you and making you realize that your life goes above most lifeless things. You appreciate nature and embrace every season it brings. More importantly, you love and pray for snow! We look forward to that lovely powder!
Not only that, but you can also guarantee that almost every Montana community has some sort of local fundraiser going on to support a local cause or each community member is rolling up their sleeves to lend a helping hand to a neighbor or friend. You’ll always find students participating and giving back.
Montana is also where small businesses are alive and well, loved and supported by you! Homegrown local businesses are the heart and soul of each community. And these small businesses strive thanks to its students. Take Dave’s Sushi in Bozeman for example, or the Pearl Café in Missoula, the energy comes from the people like you.
Entrepreneurial spirit is somewhat of a norm in Montana. Take a look at Farmented Food for example. They are helping eliminate unnecessary food loss on small local farms in the form of ugly and excess vegetables. Or look at Crooked Yard Hops. Based out of Bozeman, MT, it is a specialty crop grower focused on providing local breweries the ability to produce an entirely locally sourced product.
Montana has a strong entrepreneurial spirit. The state entrepreneurs per capita is higher than any other state and a business survival rate (businesses that survive their first five years) that ranks in the top 10. Thirty-four thousand Montanans start a new business each month on average, and more than half of those startups are still open five years later. To put it simply, Montana is among the nation’s leaders in entrepreneurship. There are resources such as the Blackstone Launchpad at Montana State University and the Blackstone Launchpad at the University of Montana that help entrepreneurs, ventures, start-ups, and students succeed.
Montana’s growth can be largely associated by the amount of young talent that has come over the past 20 years. According to the state’s website, “Montana has the 8th fastest GDP growth among states over both the last five years and ten years”. Montana’s GDP growth has also been faster than the national average since 2000 as well as the state’s income per capita. In correlation, Montana’s educational institutions have been consistently bringing in students with a great passion for learning and success.
Aside from all that, you enjoy an exceptionally healthy lifestyle. Fresh air, an abundance of healthy food, and numerous physical activities is what contributes to the Treasure State’s healthy habits. U.S News ranked Montana as 22nd for healthcare quality and 13th for quality of life. CNBC also ranked Montana as tenth for overall well-being, stating that places with “high rates of purpose, social, financial, community and physical well-being — tend to live happier, healthier lives.” That comes to no surprise when most outdoor activities are available in your backyard; which include fly fishing, ice climbing, horseback riding, snowshoeing, camping, golfing, rock climbing, hunting, skiing, snowboarding, whitewater rafting, swimming, dog sledding, mountain biking, hiking and biking to say the least.
If you are, or were, a student in Montana, know that you are special, and that is reflected through your priorities in your life. Embrace Montana’s nature and beauty, its local communities, and most importantly its people!
Sep. 18th, 2020- 10:30 am- Sara Iverson
