Former Iowa Lakes Student comes back wanting to learn more.

By Mitchell Hagenson, Staff Writer

Over the years, Iowa Lakes Community College has had some of the best programs to offer to the future students. Programs like Aviation/Airport Management, Wind Energy & Turbine Technology, Digital, Social & Broadcast Productions, Graphic Design, just to name a few. There are so many programs for the future students to choose from. Now even though it seems like most of the programs at the college are only for two years, does that mean that they can only only do two years though? Well for this student by the name of Morgan Larson, that isn’t the case.

Morgan Larson is returning student who graduated with a graphics art degree back in 2016 and is currently in the broadcasting program at Iowa Lakes. She would talk about what’s it like doing another program at the college.

“It means a lot,” said Larson. “Doing another program with such a great college community is fulfilling. After what I have gone through since graduating the first time, I feel like I have meaning again. Even though I am a non traditional, this program gives me a reason to strive for a new path in both my personal and professional lives. My fellow broadcasters in the program don’t view me as a older person coming back. I didn’t want to seem like a failure for coming back after already having a degree from here. My classmates are very friendly and welcoming and it makes me feel this program was a good fit,” said Larson.

Larson would then continue to talk about why she decided to go for another program at Iowa Lakes

Besides my job loss, looking for a new job in the graphics field in my area is like finding a needle in a hay stack,” said Larson. “I was getting very frustrated and sad that I had to revert back to job searching after having a concrete job position. I started to looking at ILCC again to see what program would be correlate with my graphics degree and fortunately the digital, social and broadcast matched that. This program offered more job possibilities toward social media since the world is growing in this area and I figured the job opportunities it’s would widen for me with both degrees. I also worked with social media, professionally, where I knew this would go well with my current degree,” said Larson.

Trudy Ahrens, who is the TRIO Director at Iowa Lakes would talk about what TRIO does for the students at the college and how they can help the students either change majors or go for another degree at the college.

“We can assist students with changing majors,” said Ahrens. “Now even though we are always helpful doing that for the students however, that is not our main goal. Our goal is to help students persist in college, graduate, and/or transfer to a 4 year college. Our academic advisors are here to assist students in reaching their educational goals,” said Ahrens.

Larson would then continue to talk about why she decided to join the broadcasting program out of all of the programs to do at the college.

“I chose this program because of how well it partnered with my graphic degree, the bigger options for job opportunities, and it was a semi goal I’ve have to be on radio,” said Larson. “When I was little I would call my grandparents to tell them the current weather conditions. I always liked the idea of trying to let people be aware of the weather and be informative. I would also listen with my dad to Rhonda down at KICD in the mornings and loved her voice and when she would do the trivia and I just got hooked on that aspect too. I finally got the confidence to try to achieve this little goal. Feels good, like I have purpose again,” said Larson.

Larson would then talk about what this experience from graduating from Iowa Lakes before to deciding to come back to Iowa Lakes to join the broadcasting program taught her as a person.

“It’s taught me that it’s never too late to come back to broaden your skills, knowledge and trade of yourself,” said Larson. “I hope to have gain some new friends within the program. Building a small network from college, I have learned, is a great asset to have personally and professionally. I think since joining the program, it’s taught me to go out of my comfort zone and explore the possibilities this program will have to offer job wise. I hope that once graduating this second round, I’ll be more stable in my own self worth, to be happy with any newfound purpose and what I can provide for my future employment options to be successful,” said Larson.

Trudy Ahrens would then say this to any of the students who are in TRIO and to anyone who is struggling to determine what programs they want to go to at Iowa Lakes or even to anyone who wants to change their program and needs help changing it.

“The staff at Iowa Lakes is here to assist students in reaching their educational goals,” said Ahrens. “If a student is struggling, please reach out to an instructor or staff member for assistance,” said Ahrens.

As you can see even though that Morgan graduated back in 2016, nothing stopped her from expanding her horizons and to test her learning skills. It’s never too late to try more programs, even if it’s at the same college you went to before.