What is your background?: I come from Marion, Iowa. I attended Marion High School until the start of my Junior year. I decided I wanted to complete the last two years of my high school career through the homeschool program, the Marion Home School Assistance Program (MHSAP). My father Mike, mother Cindy, and brother Mark II are my small but overwhelmingly supportive family.
What brought you to Kirkwood and why?: Truly what brought me to Kirkwood is my search for a place in the world. I knew I would someday have to find a career, something I thought was important but also took care of me financially and had good benefits. I had a prior interest in welding in my late teens, and my partner was excited about helping me in my search for what I was passionate about, so he let me run some welds with his 110-volt machine. I was instantly intrigued and wanted to further my knowledge in the welding field.
What is your program of study and what interests you about it?: I am studying Advanced Welding Technologies. What interests me the most about my studies is the endless possibilities for exercising my creativity and potential. There is so much more to this skill than assembling heavy equipment, I can create something beautiful and express myself in a unique way.
Are you involved in anything off of campus?: I am not currently involved in any organizations or clubs off campus, although I am interested in learning more about Feed Iowa First, a nonprofit organization in Cedar Rapids.
What do you do for fun?: I enjoy spending time in nature and traveling to new places, enjoying my favorite music, and making metal art.
Where do you see yourself in five years?: With the amount my life has changed in the past two years, I am pretty uncertain of where I’ll be in five years. I can only hope I’m in a home of my own surrounded by love, and a big family of dogs. I hope to see myself thriving and helping my family as much as possible. I hope in five years I have made an impact on this world in a positive way and made a good name for myself and the business I dream of creating every day.