Kingsbury featured in Kirkwood newsletter

McKenna Kingsbury, a senior at Vinton-Shellsburg High School, is featured in the Kirkwood Community College Benton County spring newsletter.

Following is the Q&A feature from the newsletter.

When did you start taking college credit classes?

Junior year.

Which courses and/or academies have you enjoyed the most and why?

The course that I have enjoyed the most was my CNA course that I took through Kirkwood. The reason I enjoyed this course so much is because I was able to work with an amazing teacher who did a great job instructing.

This course did a really good job preparing me for my future career.

Another reason I enjoyed this class is because I had a great group of kids that I was able to learn and collaborate with everyday. It was a rewarding feeling when we all were able to celebrate passing our clinicals together for all the time and dedication we put into the class.

What has been the most surprising thing you have learned (about a specific subject, topic, or even yourself) after taking college credit coursework?

The thing that surprised me the most was when we entered the clinical portion of the class.

This was a fun time during the end of the year because we finally were able to show our skills to our teacher and the residents we worked with. It gave us a good experience of what we were getting ourselves into.

We had practiced these skills in class everyday, and it was good to finally be able to show off what we learned.

Overall, the thing that surprised me the most was that it made me really excited for my future because I really enjoyed my class and can't wait to continue further on in my career.

Who (Kirkwood instructor, staff, etc.) has made a lasting impact on you? Why?

Kris Hallberg has made a huge impact on me this year. She really helped me get through a lot in the class and did a great job on preparing me for my future.

It was a good feeling to know that I was ending my day with her class everyday.

It was even more rewarding when we got to see her face when we passed both of our clinicals. We all had this really close bond with her, and she just made us feel so comfortable and relaxed when she was teaching us the course. She is truly an amazing person, and I couldn't have asked for a better teacher.

How do you feel taking college credit classes better prepares students for their futures?

I believe that taking a college credit course really helps prepare you for your future because you learn so many things that you can apply later in life. The college courses that I have taken are preparing me for post-secondary education.

I'm currently taking as many college credit courses right now hoping to knock out as many as I can before I leave for college next summer!