What is your background?: I was born in Cedar Rapids in 1997. I have one sister and one brother. My mom actually moved up to Nebraska during my sophomore year of high school, and I went up there with her, so I graduated from a really small school in David City, Nebraska. My graduating class was only… 46 people? Maybe less? Very small school, but they had every activity I wanted aside from orchestra. I participated in One Act which was basically a play ordeal, but they took it very seriously. I was also in competitive speech doing serious, OID, impromptu, and a few duets here and there. My serious category almost took me to state, but I went over time. Still a lot of fun and since I’ve never been much of a sports person, this school was perfect for the arts! I have a two year old boy who just went through a kidney transplant in January this year, and that was a ride. He really is the motivation behind everything I do, and I couldn’t imagine my world without him.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: I was originally set to go to school for veterinary medicine in Nebraska, but my high school sweetheart and I rekindled a flame, and I moved back to Iowa for him. School got put off for a while because being an adult is super complicated, and we eventually started a family. My son was born in stage five kidney failure, so we’ve been involved in a lot of hospitals, meetings with doctors, and the children’s hospital in Iowa City has basically become a second home to us. After spending so much time, you get interested in what’s going on around you, and I grew a passion and drive to be what we look up to, and that’s why I chose Kirkwood to get my associates degree. It’s an easy place to start for something that’s so difficult, and it’s also nice to brush up on skills that died since I graduated in 2015.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: Right now, I’m just getting my associates in liberal arts, but I transfer to Mount Mercy University in the spring of 2022. I’ll be doing pre-medicine there, and I’m so excited. The thing I love most about medicine is how it’s always changing and evolving. I also grew a passion for children, especially children like my son and, after always being put in the situation of miscommunication or not quite understanding what’s going on, I’d like to be the person these families go to for clarification. I feel like having that personal experience with my own child gives me a really big step up to where I want to be later in life. Why not take a bad thing and spin it into a good thing, right?
Are you involved in anything else on campus? If so, what and why?: I wish I was, but I am not. If I had to be involved in something though, I would definitely choose something marketing/communication related just because I did a lot of journalism in high school, and I loved every bit of it. My heart is that of a writer for sure; it’s just extremely difficult to make a career out of the writing I love!
What do you do for fun?: I’m a pretty busy student and, when I’m not playing that role, I am a mother, so my fun gets very limited sometimes! However, when things are chaotic, I do love to read and write. During the summer, I like to go on walks with my boyfriend and son, and we’ve also begun to travel. In October, I went and saw my brother who is stationed in California, and it really gave me this itch to want to get out of Iowa and see more, but I don’t necessarily want to move because this is where my whole family is. By the end of the year (pending COVID), I would like to go to California again to see my brother and maybe go to Washington and explore some of the mountains with my family!
Where do you see yourself in five years?: Realistically, still in school! Medicine isn’t easy, that’s for sure. However, in five years, I should hopefully be in medical school and getting ready to start internships. At this point as well, my son will be turning seven (UGH!!!) and he’ll be in school. Hopefully things are going smooth with his new kidney and he’s making lots of friends around him. I would like to be engaged in five years (my boyfriend and I have been together since 2015), but as long as we’re still together, I’m happy! I have four dogs that I would hope are still around because they are one of my constants since turning 18. And I just hope to be happy in whatever I’m doing. After the year we’ve all had, I hope that in five years things are back to normal, and we’re enjoying the world happily and healthily!