What is your background?: I am from the small town of Bellevue, Iowa, which has a population of around 2,300 people. I graduated from Marquette High School where I was very involved in both sports and various clubs, such as basketball, volleyball, softball, soccer, track, speech, National Honors Society, musicals, Marquette in Motion, and I was a Student Body representative. My parents are Jamie and Tonia Sieverding, and I have an older brother, Mason, and a younger sister, Rylin. I also have a two-year-old niece, Ayla.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: During high school, I toured various colleges in Iowa as I did not know where I wanted to continue my schooling. I graduated with a high school class of 16 students. I chose Kirkwood because I was looking for smaller class sizes and more individualized attention from instructors. I learn best in environments where I can ask questions and build connections with my teachers, and Kirkwood offered that kind of supportive setting. I value being in a learning environment where I’m not just a number. I always wanted to be a nurse, so I really concentrated on the nursing program on each tour. As soon as I toured the nursing classrooms, there was no comparison to any other college that I had toured. I could tell it was a hands on learning experience with lots of opportunity to learn how to become a nurse in a real world setting.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: I am pursing to become a registered nurse through the Kirkwood Nursing program, and eventually the partnership program that Kirkwood has with other colleges to get my Bachelor of Sciences in Nursing degree. Nursing programs aren’t just lectures—they include clinicals, labs, and real-world experience. Nursing offers many paths (hospital care, pediatrics, ER, long-term care, etc.), so I like the flexibility and ability to grow or specialize. There is a variety of different types of jobs that you can get with a nursing degree, and I feel I will gain both technical skills (like patient care, medications, assessments) and soft skills (communication, critical thinking, teamwork) through my education at Kirkwood. Nursing can be challenging and different every day, which I look forward to.
Are you involved in anything on campus?: I am a Student Ambassador where I do campus tours, welcome prospective students, and answer questions on the student panel. I am also part of the student casting call, where I have been featured on various Kirkwood social media platforms. I also studied abroad this past December-January to Belize for the Nursing program. This gave me opportunity to experience healthcare in a different setting and culture. As a Nursing student, I think it’s important to understand how care is delivered in diverse environments, especially with different resources and patient populations. It would help me become more adaptable, culturally aware, and a stronger future nurse.
Are you involved in anything off campus?: I work for Aura Independent Senior Living in Cedar Rapids, where I am a receptionist and food server. I also am a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA) at two nursing homes. I also work at an ice cream shop/diner in Bellevue, Iowa during summer break.
What do you do for fun?: I love to spend time with my friends. When I came to Kirkwood, I only knew one person from my high school. But it was easy to make friends quickly by becoming involved. I also love to go to concerts, and travel. I have been to Arizona, Colorado, Florida, Washington D.C., Mexico, Belize, Honduras, Jamaica, and the Bahamas.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: In five years, I see myself working in a pediatric setting, such as a children’s hospital or clinic. I hope to have gained solid experience, developed strong clinical judgment, and be providing compassionate, high-quality care to my patients and their families.