As of August I am now a recent graduate of SDSU. It’s amazing how true the words “You Can Go Anywhere From Here” are. I always laughed at the motto when I first heard it but I found it to be true. After graduating from SDSU, I am now attending Harvard University. This is greatly due to my education received by the Mathematics and Statistics department.

However what I did not know is that where I would be going is into even more debt and ruined credit after paying the pathetic student insurance plan. When I needed the plan the most and had to go into the hospital it refused to cover me due to my conditions being pre-existing. It seems to me that this plan benefits SDSU and Avera more than it benefits the students. I worked a couple different jobs while at SDSU among them driving the Safe Ride. I managed to pay for my tuition and my insurance without having to take out loans but I now must face a greater decision– find an attorney to defend myself against lawsuits from Avera due to over $25,000 in medical debt or face bankruptcy. Sadly that debt was acquired while “insured” as a student. I am not sure if the college is aware of how its choices in medical insurance affects each of the students there but rather than enjoying my life here in Boston I am working at filling out legal forms and trying to find an attorney. I urge students to look at the insurance offered. It may not cover you in a life or death situation and you may leave SDSU with a greater amount of debt, ruined credit or even lawsuits if you are unable to pay your medical bills. I love South Dakota and SDSU. I truly have only desired to move back and work for SDSU Mathematics and Statistics Department and the surrounding medical community when I am done at Harvard. I love that department and hold myself eternally grateful to them. However, to the rest of SDSU I border on bitterness and wanting to say thanks for the so called insurance and thanks to Avera for the lawsuits. I wonder if insurance is truly what they find best and most affordable for students or if it helps to cement deals in terms of getting funding for new buildings and programs?

Adam Sullivan