Get some advice from current and past students...

Susan Dailey, Social and Human Services Program E-mail: susan.dailey@lwtcs.ctc.edu One day while at my sister’s house I noticed a Lake Washington Technical College catalog sitting on her coffee table. My brother-in-law was an alumnus of the Technical Illustration program and I guess he was still on the mailing list. As I was leafing through the catalog I saw the listing for the Social and Human Services program and, like a cartoon character, I felt like my eyes had bugged out of my head and my hair was standing on end! I had been working in this field but had no higher education or degree and my job options were limited; here was the training I had been looking for.   From the moment I met with the program instructor I knew this was the best program and school for me. It is very important to me to be able to learn through experience and not just through a lecture and reading materials. My classes offer many opportunities to take what I learn and use it right away. Our program incorporates volunteering in a variety of settings, networking with key people in the field and, most importantly, our instructors are still working in the field and bring a fresh and current perspective to the class/material.   As an older student I am grateful and amazed at the diversity of our student body. To have someone share with me their perspective from a younger age, different culture, and/or different ability to my own constantly increases my learning and broadens my life and choices. The additional programs that are put on for the students such as guest speakers, movies and panels all make my learning experience more exciting, immediate and meaningful.   I had not thought too much about the clubs that are offered at school. However, many of my fellow students encouraged me to become involved and run for office.  The Social and Human Services Club is a great place to meet people with similar interests and to network both within the school and with social service agencies.   Phi Theta Kappa, the Honor Society, has given me the chance to meet fellow students outside my program. Through the Honor Society I am learning about effective leadership skills that will serve me long after I graduate.   Yes, I am biased--I really enjoy being a student here. There are many great opportunities offered at Lake Washington Technical College and I encourage you to try as many as possible. If you have any questions about the school or the Social and Human Services Program please feel free to contact me at the email address above.

Dria Littlehawk, MMDP program E-mail: dria.littlehawk@lwtc.edu Continuing my education past high school had eluded me for many, many years. As most of us know, it is extremely difficult and sometimes impossible to balance all that we want to accomplish with all that we need to accomplish. I decided to leave a secure but unsatisfying position with a large government agency after 14 years with the belief that there had to be something better out in “the real world.” I packed as much as I could fit in my rather small car and everything else went into a sibling’s garage as I set out to find where I would land. While my focus was on the Pacific Northwest, I kept an open mind as I made my way through New Mexico, Arizona, and California. I settled in Portland, Oregon for a few years to test the waters there. Though I knew I would be facing a significant decrease in finances, the reality was still a rude awakening for my idealistic notions. It didn’t take very long at all to realize that I could barely afford the daily necessities, much less be able to go to school, even on a part-time basis. With the promise of a higher paying job, including educational benefits, waiting in Seattle, I packed up once again and headed north. Layoffs at that company came only a few months later and I found myself facing the harsh truth that I had outdated job skills and virtually no computer skills. My income continued to decrease along with the prospect for a better quality of life that included personally satisfying employment, which I refused to give up on. I found myself taking up residence with family members after yet another layoff with a different company. When I was in my 20s and 30s, planning for retirement was out of the question, as I’m sure it is for most of us. Now that retirement age is in the near distant future, the importance of having a deeper education or knowing a trade is no longer a benefit, but a necessity. I knew I had to go to college. The staff and faculty at LWTC became the light at the end of the tunnel for me. I started out taking only one or two classes to get back into the mindset needed to face the challenges of being out of school for so long. I’m now a full-time student. I am thrilled to be in the MMDP Program. It has helped me continue to develop my creative abilities while adding much needed technical skill development. One of the opportunities that have been presented here at LWTC was to be able to tutor students in the TRiO Program. Working on a professional level with fellow students adds another satisfying facet to my educational experience. I enjoy learning about various learning styles and the impact it has on each of us. You may e-mail with any questions about the MMDP program or student life at the e-mail address listed below my name.

...Or listen to our graduates.

Hear what some past students have to say about LWTC. Visit the Press Room/radio spots and click on the MP3 links of each student.