Employment and education:

Vanessa graduated from LLCC with her AAS, administrative secretary in 2000. Vanessa is the administrative assistant at LLCC-Beardstown.

How has Lincoln Land Community College impacted your life?

I started as a student at LLCC-Jacksonville out of necessity. I had four kids at home with the youngest in diapers, and a husband who had recently had a heart attack. If I lost him, I would have to raise my children on welfare because I couldn’t take care of them with little or not income. I had applied for a job at our local police department and passed the English portion of the test, but not the computer portion. I told my husband I needed to have an education so I could get a job that would support me and the children if something happened to him, and that I would need his support to be able to accomplish this. With my husband and my mother’s help I had the advantage of having someone to watch my kids. I couldn’t have attended school without their help.

I started school scared to death, not knowing if I could do it or not and I was very, very shy, but found that I loved college and the people at LLCC! I excelled at my classes and was able to come out of my shell and start associating with people more. As I was studying at LLCC-Jacksonville, I started as a student worker. With encouragement and guidance from Rosa Sides, Tom Smith, Jim Coup and Jan Terry, I became more and more outgoing and able to see my abilities to become a successful person. I then worked myself up to a part time person in the evenings and also finished my internship at the Jacksonville center!

When I graduated, I was the first one in my family to graduate with an associates degree and my family was very proud of me, and I was proud of myself. I went to work right away as a secretary for a local occupational doctor, but a position at the Beardstown center opened up and I jumped at the chance and was hired.

I started as a customer service representative working 30 hours a week and with Donna Martin’s help and encouragement, I worked myself up the ladder to a full-time position as administrative assistant. I have been employed at LLCC-Beardstown for 16 years as of Aug. 1! Donna was a mentor, boss and friend for 13 years and I owe her a lot of what she has taught me over the years. I have grown so much from what she, Shanda Byer and the others mentioned about have taught me and I am still learning and growing each and every day. Another important part of LLCC are the students and what they have taught and still teach me. LLCC is the best thing that has ever happened to me!

What is your greatest accomplishment(s)?

Being an LLCC-Beardstown employee and helping students every day.

Was there a professor, advisor, staff member or fellow student who made an impression on you or helped you when you were here at LLCC?

Rosa Sides, Jim Coup, Jan Terry, Tom Smith, Donna Martin, Shanda Byer and many, many, more!

What did you like about LLCC or what is your favorite LLCC memory?

My favorite memory is after 9/11 when the LLCC-Beardstown students and staff got together and had a fundraiser to purchase a flagpole for the front of the center.

Is there anything else you would like to share?

Three of my children have received an associates degree from LLCC. I was recognized as a student when I had written work published in The Harvester (now known as The Review).