Getting into the swing of things
MINOT, N.D. – Margaux Sedlik knows what it means to be a part of a community.
Completing her sophomore year at Minot State University as a cybersecurity and operations major, she, with her husband, Neil Sedlik, has built a place for herself since moving to the Minot area April 2021.
“Through all the ups and downs, it's been a great experience,” said Sedlik. “I'm really happy that this is the place that we got put (for U.S. Air Force deployment), compared to anywhere else. The college is awesome, and the community is amazing.”
Both on campus and off, Sedlik has also put her skills as a competitive swing dancer to work. She and her husband have since started a swing dancing club for Minot State students, and they give dance classes at Spectrum Fitness for anyone within the Minot community.
“Last semester, the MSU Social Dance Club was doing twice a month and we did just two hours,” she said. “If I had new people come in, we'd do a 30-minute class and just teach them the basics. And then we'd free dance the rest so everyone can practice and socialize. That, for me, is the best part of dancing. People can dance with everybody else and have fun as a community. I'm happy that people are actually taking the time to learn how to social dance. It's not a common activity, but it's so much fun.”
Much of Sedlik’s time on campus, however, goes towards her studies.
“I love coding. The reason why I chose cybersecurity, compared to regular computer science, is to actually help protect people’s identities and companies. It’s really important to me, and it's a field that is growing exponentially, so I'll always have a job, which is really nice,” she said.
Outside of her cybersecurity studies and dance classes, Sedlik also makes time for horses and her faith.
“I have a good friend in Sawyer with a couple horses. We go all over North Dakota to ride, which is super fun,” Sedlik said. “And I go to church at the Pursuit. I volunteer with the kids’ Pursuit for two services on Sunday, and then Momentum, which is with the junior high students, every Wednesday. It's great. I love it.
“I used to go to church back in California. So, when we moved, that was one of the main things that we wanted to find. Once we got plugged into the church, that community just flourished. Then we started working with the kids. Their brightness brings so much joy into your day. It's been really fun to connect with those kids every week and teach them about Jesus.”
Sedlik values the positive impact of being part of a community and has strived to make sure that her new home does just that, both for herself and the people around her.
“I think it’s important to always have a community, no matter where you’re at,” she said. “Nothing’s for certain, but to always have people that you can rely on no matter where you’re going is important. People help you grow, and you can help others grow. It’s not good to be in solitude. Becoming part of a community is hard work. It took us a year to really feel like we have a community here, but I wouldn’t trade it for the world.”
About Minot State University
Minot State University is a public university dedicated to excellence in education, scholarship, and community engagement achieved through
rigorous academic experiences, active learning environments, commitment to public service, and a vibrant campus life.
| Published: 06/06/22 |
