Johnson County resident Diana Lenz discovers a personal reset button via courses and support
Spend even a little time with Diana Lenz and you’ll get a message of hope and new beginnings. The 30-something from southeast Iowa has made some constructive choices in the past year and expects her studies at Kirkwood Community College to help her complete a personal journey of renewal.
Lenz grew up near Ollie, Iowa and graduated from Pekin High School in the early 1990s. Her teenage years were difficult, including the untimely death of her mother when Diana was just 16. She struggled with alcohol dependency a bit later, then the difficulties of a recent divorce.
Things are brighter now for Lenz, and she credits the focus and interest that Kirkwood classes have brought to her world. She peppers her comments with words like ‘starting over” and “new beginnings” as she relates her initial college experiences.
“I thought I would be the oldest person in my classes, but it turns out that isn’t the case. I’m starting my life over and many of these kids are just beginning their adult lives. After this fall’s experiences I can say that we are all on the same page, getting a fresh beginning in life,” she observed.
Lenz now lives in Lone Tree and commutes to her classes each day. She admits there have been some challenges to re-starting education after nearly two decades away from a classroom. She has to “take a lot of notes” and ask questions on topics that initially surprised her.
“That was a little tough, because I felt I should know more about these things. I do spend extra time studying and use different labs for help when I need it,” she said.
Lenz has also developed an extra facet in her relationship with her teenage son, Jacob. “We have spent time studying together and I do spend good time helping Jacob with his homework. My son is very proud of me for going back to school. My adult friends were shocked at first that I was going back to school, but they now are giving me support. And, I am proud of myself for starting over. I want to do better for my son—and myself!”
Kirkwood Admissions Advisor Mark Ash has seen Lenz’s persistence and progress over the past months, calling her “persistent and determined” in both education and life. “She’s been dealt her share of challenges and is now at a point in her life where she is addressing these challenges head-on. We know she will rise above them. When I think of Diana, what stands out the most is that she wants to do this the right way, as opposed to the quickest way. She also understands that asking for help is not a sign of weakness but a sign of strength,” Ash added.
Those sentiments are shared by Lenz’s instructors, too. Elizabeth Starman called her a “model student” in a class she taught at the Iowa City Kirkwood Campus.
“Despite the fact that she was trudging through some great difficulties and major life changes, she kept her academic pace at full gear. She stayed on top of her assignments, maintained communication when necessary and found time to befriend a wide variety of her classmates,” Starman said.
Raylene Grose teaches computer classes at the Kirkwood Cedar Rapids Campus and also enjoyed Lenz’s classroom contributions. “She is working hard to overcome her difficult circumstances and succeed here at Kirkwood and at life. She worked hard in class, even when things were most difficult for her. She also helped others who were struggling with the course material,” Grose observed.
With a semester’s studies behind her, Diana Lenz is looking ahead to more study and effort before she completes her planned associate’s degree in Human Services. She strikes a positive tone now familiar to her family and Kirkwood classmates as she looks ahead.
“I admit that starting my life over at 37 was kind of scary for me at first. I feel that going back to school is what I really need right now, and I’m doing it for me! Starting over is like replanting a flower. It needs some extra TLC and water at first to make it bloom again. I know I will re-bloom with the help of Kirkwood, my family and friends,” she said.