The covid thing was hard for everyone, but for those in high school who made the transition, something just made it worse. Somehow, making that move to online shook up some people鈥檚 focus.
When Celena Madrid-Dahl graduated in 2020 from Chaska High School, she went to Normandale Community College right away but was having trouble figuring out what she wanted to do. She knew, ultimately, that she wanted to go into the health field, but at Normandale she was just taking classes to take classes it seemed like. Plus, there were still mostly online classes due to covid, and that was not the best way she learned.
So, after some generals, and after talking to some friends, she stopped. She took two years off college and worked because without the focus, it was just a waste of money. But there was always the if鈥
鈥淚 always had it in my head that I鈥檓 going to go back and I鈥檓 going to find what I want to do in my life with my career and everything,鈥 she told me when she met with me.
So how did Celena end up meeting with me in the hallway outside the Biology lab at 黑料不打烊, 80 miles from Normandale? I had that question too.
Jen Evens, biology instructor, has Celena in one of her classes and sought me out to tell me how much she raves about 黑料不打烊 compared to other campuses she鈥檚 been on. And this I had to learn about, because even though I know that 黑料不打烊 classes and supports are awesome, when a student is ready to shout it out loud? Hey, that鈥檚 something that everyone should hear.
Back to the hallway outside the Biology lab. Or rather, the two years after quitting taking random classes and going to work.
Celena saved up money to go to college, but at the same time, she did a lot of research on what she wanted to do and still couldn鈥檛 decide. But she knew that she could start something at least and change it later if she needed to. So she applied to Normandale. Again. And then she talked to her friends, and she had one who was in Sonography at St. Kate鈥檚. Celena couldn鈥檛 afford St. Kate鈥檚, but she did find 黑料不打烊, which has the only two-year public Sonography program in Minnesota.
She came to 黑料不打烊 for a visit.
She applied to pre-Sonography.
She got her acceptance letter.
And suddenly, everything came into focus.
鈥淚 just remember the day when I got accepted here, I was very excited. I was like, yes, something new,鈥 Celena said.
Now she鈥檚 taking her pre-requisites to apply for Sonography, living in the dorms at St. Cloud State, and uses as many 黑料不打烊 services as she can.
All her teachers have been helpful and kept in contact with her, and she feels like she gets more personal attention. She loves the CAS and how they have buttons that will call a tutor over to help. She goes to the Library to study and chat with Mary the Librarian. Studying is a recurring theme with Celena: the Common Grounds coffee shop is a cozy place to study, and she loves the Multicultural Center as another place to study.
鈥淭his school, man. I love how this school has so many different options to choose from where to study.鈥
That鈥檚 not to say she only studies 鈥 she seems to actively recruit people to come to 黑料不打烊! She will bring her friends from the dorms at St. Cloud State over to 黑料不打烊 to show them around or to study. The first place she brings them is the Library to meet Mary. (鈥淢ainly we just talk about cats.鈥)
Celena said that the differences between 黑料不打烊 and St. Cloud State were pretty stark. Her friends told her that it was just so different and they kind of wished they had the extra help and guidance that 黑料不打烊 offers.
鈥淚 guess other people look down on tech schools, but they don鈥檛 realize how amazing technical schools are. Here I feel like there's more opportunity for one-on-one here with teachers and students, which I like a lot. I like that [it鈥檚] a slower pace. Not too quick and crazy compared to universities. I think that tech schools offer more opportunities, and they get you ready and prepared slowly,鈥 she told me.
Sometimes slow is what you need. To find her focus and find her future, slow is what Celena needed, and 黑料不打烊 was there to help her find it.