Where are you from? Bertram, Iowa.
Why did you choose Kirkwood? I chose Kirkwood because their program offerings had coursework that I was interested in at a price that was affordable to me. As a parent who works full-time, my faculty members were always willing to work with me to make earning this degree possible.
What is your major and how did you choose it? My major is Human Services – I have always been drawn to social work, non-profit organizations and substance abuse awareness. I enjoy Human Services because it combines my passion for helping others with my sense of realism and logical thinking. No person’s reality is the same, and people need to have both hope from others and realistic goals in order to lead a more fulfilling life.
What has been your proudest moment at Kirkwood? It was giving my final presentation in my Health and Psychosocial Rehabilitation class during Fall 2023. I worked very hard on that paper and presentation and spoke not only from my mind, but from my heart.
What are your plans after Kirkwood? I hope to get a job in social work in the Cedar Rapids area and one day earn my Master of Social Work from the University of Iowa.
What inspires or motivates you? More than anything, I want my daughter to see what it looks like to work toward goals at any stage of life, and to know that she can also do hard things and do them well.
Tell us about who you are outside of Kirkwood. I work at Cornell College in Mt. Vernon. I am fortunate to have loved ones (family, partner, and friends) who have encouraged me throughout this journey. I regularly volunteer at the Southeast Linn Community Center in Lisbon, and enjoy reading, exercising, and having good conversations with others.
What does being named an Outstanding Student mean to you? Although I could name quite a few of my classmates who had more obstacles/barriers and probably deserve this more than I do, it does feel good to know that I did my best and that my professors recognize my hard work and dedication.
Is there anything else you’d like to add? Thank you to Jody Weigel, Ambre Bernards, and Dan Tallman for being fantastic mentors as I worked toward my goals.
Categories: Outstanding Students
