Cheyenne Jacobs is a junior at Dickinson State University (DSU) pursuing degrees in physical education and health education, with minors in leadership and coaching. She is originally from Wauconda, Illinois, about 45 minutes north of Chicago.
She is a member of the DSU golf team and works at the DSU Heritage Foundation. She also serves as a student assistant director for the Theodore Roosevelt Honors Leadership Program, a student ambassador and Hawk Talk host, and is involved in Blue Hawk Catholic.
Q: How do you define success now compared to when you began your college journey?
A: My definition of success has changed a lot since I first started college. As a freshman, I believed success meant getting good grades and performing well academically. I thought that was what defined my worth and my future.
However, my time at DSU has shown me that success is not what defines me as a person. I now understand that failure and mistakes are part of growth. Success, to me, means getting back up after I fall, learning from challenges, and choosing to be resilient when things do not go as planned. It is about progress, perseverance and becoming stronger through adversity.
Q: Can you tell us about a woman, historical or personal, who has positively influenced your life?
A: The women who have most positively influenced my life are my twin sister, Morgan, and my mom. My sister has been by my side through every season of life. She has faced so much, yet she continues to show incredible strength and resilience while always making sure I am doing OK. Watching her navigate life with such courage inspires me every single day.
My mom is also one of my biggest supporters. She consistently shows up for me and my siblings and reminds us that she is proud of us no matter what. She would drop everything at any time just to be there for anyone, and that is truly amazing. These two women are my biggest cheerleaders, my safe place and my constant support system, and I am forever grateful for them.
Q: What advice would you give to other young women pursuing their goals?
A: My advice to young women pursuing their goals is to remain resilient and understand that things will not always go according to plan. There will be obstacles, setbacks and moments when you feel exhausted or discouraged. In those moments, it may feel easier to give up, but you cannot let temporary challenges stop you from chasing your dreams. Keep pushing forward, trust your journey and persevere through the hard days, because growth often happens in the struggles.
Q: What does Women’s History Month mean to you personally?
A: Women’s History Month, especially as a female athlete, means celebrating the strength, determination, and resilience of women everywhere. Women are powerful and deserve recognition for everything they overcome and accomplish. Women should never be viewed as underdogs because we are some of the most hardworking, gritty, and persevering individuals. This month is a reminder to honor that strength and continue uplifting one another.
Q: Is there anything else you would like to add?
A: Being a Blue Hawk has truly been something special that I hold close to me. Being so far away from home, DSU has really become my second home and my family, whether that is through athletics, the honors program, the foundation or campus in general. Everyone at DSU is here to support you. I have truly found the people I can lean on in hard times and the people who push me when I need it. I can say without a doubt that I have met some of my lifelong best friends at DSU.