Kirkwood Becomes Second Home for Columbus Junction Native
–By: Cindy Petersen, Communique’
Ali Carlson, a communications media/PR major from Columbus Junction, knows first-hand how unpredictable life can be. It was Oct. 3, 2005 when her family received the phone call that her father would be receiving a new heart that very day.
“I was a junior in high school and had to grow up quickly,” said Carlson. “Not only did I have all the activities at school but chores at home, too. I got pretty good at multi-tasking because I was on my own for a few months while my mother was at the hospital with my dad,” she said.
Carlson said that though her father is limited in his activities his health has improved dramatically.
Carlson wanted to attend Kirkwood Community College for many reasons. “I liked the smaller size of the college and the athletic teams. I had some friends who went here and loved it. The campus kind of grew on me and I knew it was where I wanted to go before trying to tackle a four-year school,” she said.
Carlson said her graduating class at Columbus Community High School only had 54 students and she was more comfortable in a smaller group. “I figured that I would use Kirkwood as sort of a stepping-stone so I wouldn’t feel so overwhelmed at a bigger school,” she said.
Carlson’s involvement at Kirkwood has included positions as ad manager, sports editor and editor-in-chief for the Kirkwood student newspaper, the Communiqué. She has also worked the sidelines for Kirkwood Student Productions (KSP) and with the men’s baseball team getting the inside scoop. “I think of all the guys as brothers. They make sure I get a good story. I have become as involved as possible because the chance may never come again,” she said.
Carlson said she has learned a lot during her time at Kirkwood. “I have learned that I work way too much and tend to take on a lot,” she said with a chuckle. “I’m not a quitter either. If something needs to get done, I just do it. No questions asked. I think my dad has really influenced me in that aspect. He got a second chance at life. He never gave up either. He’s also the one who got me interested in sports. I would much rather sit down and watch a good game than go shopping any day,” she said.
Carlson will attend Winona State University in Minnesota next fall with a major in communications/journalism and a minor in marketing. She said she hopes to someday land a top position in sports management.
Carlson said if there is one thing she has learned at Kirkwood it is not to burn your bridges. “You never know when people can help you out as well as you helping them so it’s always a good idea to keep your contacts,” she added.
[Courtesy Kirkwood Communique’. Copyright 2009. Used by permission]