Alumni Story: Challie Briihl
"The most rewarding part of attending Ivy Bridge College is that even the smallest achievements are appreciated by the faculty."
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In January 2008 I began my journey with Ivy Bridge College to earn my associate degree in general studies; this past semester (fall 2011) I accomplished my goal! I now have my associate degree and am continuing with Tiffin University’s Degree Completion Program to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I have worked for a great non-profit organization for the past three years as a group home manager. During the time I spent at Ivy Bridge College, I also became a single mother. It has certainly been a struggle to maintain work, school, and raising a child on my own. With the help of my best-friend Callie, my family, and Ivy Bridge College success coaches I have successfully accomplished what I have worked so hard for. However, my biggest inspiration is my son, Bayne. It is for him that I work so hard to better myself and our lives.
At first, I tried to enroll at Tiffin University but it was out of my price range and the advisor from TU told me about Ivy Bridge College. Once I learned about the program, I knew it was a great choice for me. I could still work my split shifts and do school work when it was convenient for me; and it is less expensive and just as credible as any other university.
I got pregnant when I was starting spring semester 2010. This is where things became difficult. I was depressed, confused, couldn’t focus, and I began to fail my classes. That’s when I made the decision to take a semester off until after I had the baby. I came back the spring semester of 2011 to a new success coach, Rachelle Krebs. I was very unsure of how I would do returning to school with more stress than before. Let me tell you, it was not easy but Rachelle was there for me every step of the way. Rachelle helped me rebuild confidence in myself; she was not only my success coach but a life coach as well. I felt as though I could talk to her about anything and she would always listen. So thank you Rachelle and to the rest of the success coaches that have helped support me through this journey. I believe that if I wouldn’t have had a success coach school would have been more difficult to get through.
The most rewarding part of attending Ivy Bridge College is that even the smallest achievements are appreciated by the faculty. The professors are wonderful at praising you on the job you are doing and helping you identify and overcome your weaknesses. Now that I am done with my journey at Ivy Bridge, I will continue on to earn my bachelor’s degree with Tiffin University. My goal is to work in the criminal justice field as a juvenile probation officer. I want to be able to help youth get their lives back on track, so they can be successful.
I hope all of you reading this choose to follow your dreams. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your dreams won’t come true. You can do it!
In January 2008 I began my journey with Ivy Bridge College to earn my associate degree in general studies; this past semester (fall 2011) I accomplished my goal! I now have my associate degree and am continuing with Tiffin University’s Degree Completion Program to earn my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice. I have worked for a great non-profit organization for the past three years as a group home manager. During the time I spent at Ivy Bridge College, I also became a single mother. It has certainly been a struggle to maintain work, school, and raising a child on my own. With the help of my best-friend Callie, my family, and Ivy Bridge College success coaches I have successfully accomplished what I have worked so hard for. However, my biggest inspiration is my son, Bayne. It is for him that I work so hard to better myself and our lives. At first, I tried to enroll at Tiffin University but it was out of my price range and the advisor from TU told me about Ivy Bridge College. Once I learned about the program, I knew it was a great choice for me. I could still work my split shifts and do school work when it was convenient for me; and it is less expensive and just as credible as any other university.
I got pregnant when I was starting spring semester 2010. This is where things became difficult. I was depressed, confused, couldn’t focus, and I began to fail my classes. That’s when I made the decision to take a semester off until after I had the baby. I came back the spring semester of 2011 to a new success coach, Rachelle Krebs. I was very unsure of how I would do returning to school with more stress than before. Let me tell you, it was not easy but Rachelle was there for me every step of the way. Rachelle helped me rebuild confidence in myself; she was not only my success coach but a life coach as well. I felt as though I could talk to her about anything and she would always listen. So thank you Rachelle and to the rest of the success coaches that have helped support me through this journey. I believe that if I wouldn’t have had a success coach school would have been more difficult to get through.
The most rewarding part of attending Ivy Bridge College is that even the smallest achievements are appreciated by the faculty. The professors are wonderful at praising you on the job you are doing and helping you identify and overcome your weaknesses. Now that I am done with my journey at Ivy Bridge, I will continue on to earn my bachelor’s degree with Tiffin University. My goal is to work in the criminal justice field as a juvenile probation officer. I want to be able to help youth get their lives back on track, so they can be successful.
I hope all of you reading this choose to follow your dreams. Don’t ever let anyone tell you that your dreams won’t come true. You can do it!
Challie is a graduate of Ivy Bridge College's Associate of Arts in General Studies degree program.
