Wartburg was the best fit for me
NAME: Alycia Heneke Karsjens
CLASS YEAR: 2008
MAJOR: Social work
OCCUPATION: Emergency department social worker, University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
WHY DID YOU CHOOSE WARTBURG: I attended a social work visit day when I was a junior in high school, after receiving a postcard in the mail. I immediately fell in love with the campus, the social work professors, and the small town Iowa community that seemed to embrace the college. I knew it was going to feel like home for me! It also helped that my older brother attended as well.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE WARTBURG TRADITION: Homecoming at Wartburg is always my favorite time of year! Even, almost 10 years after graduating, I still come back every year with my family to celebrate this and love having an excuse to come back to campus again.
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU NEVER IMAGINED YOU COULD DO BEFORE WARTBURG: I grew up in a small Iowa town and was a bit nervous about going to a brand new town, new college campus, and not knowing a single person. I was truly able to become my own person, away from my family and everything I knew, and be who I wanted to be. Everyone I met at Wartburg accepted me for who I am.
HOW DID YOUR WARTBURG EXPERIENCE PREPARE YOU FOR LIFE AFTER COLLEGE: First of all, I was 100 percent ready for graduate school, which that I attended right after graduating from Wartburg. My writing skills, speaking skills, and overall professionalism made me prepared immediately for the “real world,” and I was able to find my dream job without any difficulty. I attribute a lot of that to my education at Wartburg!
WHY WAS WARTBURG WORTH IT: Any time I tell someone I graduated from Wartburg College, they always have positive things to say about other Wartburg alumni who are amazing professionals. I feel fortunate that I graduated from such a well-respected college and wouldn’t have traded my experience for anything. It was truly the best fit for me.
HOW DO YOU STAY CONNECTED TO THE COLLEGE: I follow the Wartburg College Facebook page and the Wartburg Social Work Facebook page. I also am the chair of Wartburg’s Social Work Advisory Board and attend meetings twice per year on campus.
WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR CURRENT STUDENTS: These are truly four of the best years of your life—take every opportunity that presents itself, and don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone. Travel if given the opportunity—it’s not as easy once you graduate.