First off, my name is pronounced Mah-Tay-Cah Uh-Bey-Tah and I am a Native American from the Navajo Tribe in New Mexico. There was a lot of doubt when others from home heard that I was going to leave a small town in New Mexico to come to a smaller college in Wisconsin. Especially going to live the farthest I’ve lived ever from home straight out of high school. That decision terrified me but I knew it needed to happen or I would get stuck in New Mexico. That’s just how it fell for others and the decision to leave was the best decision I’ve made my entire life. Growing up, we didn’t have much in the way of activities besides sports and family events. Living on the reservation, many of us didn’t have water or electricity. I remember having to haul water and being in the truck with my mom every few days or so. I know the Lakeland dorms aren’t amazing but they were better than where I came from. I’m very thankful for that experience to live with new people and make so many new life long friends from here.  

I think coming here helped me realize the importance of enjoying your relationships with those from home that you don’t get to see everyday. It was difficult to be far away and missing milestones that were made in my family, but it made me cherish every minute that I had with them once I returned home. On New Year’s day for 2022, my best friend of 7 years passed away 4 hours after I was done talking on the phone with him. I never thought anything like that would happen. I think about him every day and it adds to how much I care about others and really want the best for them. I think this is something that is very vital to the person that I am today. Along with having God, my ancestors, and my culture by my side, it makes me a better person to help the next person in need.