PAYING IT FORWARD HOW ONE ALUMNA IS HELPING OTHERS

I FULLY SUPPORT ANYONE GOING TO LAKE LAND BECAUSE IT IS SUPER CLEAR TO ME HOW MUCH THEY WANT YOU TO DO WELL.

Cassandra Eilers saw a need for mental health professionals when she chose to pursue a career in this field. Today she has earned her Licensed Social Work certification and is a therapist for Memorial Behavioral Health in Taylorville.

“I wanted to be the person for someone else that I needed when I was going through my mental health struggles,” Eilers said. “I saw that there is an intense need in this field as well, so I wanted to pursue a career helping people this way.”

Eilers returned to Lake Land College after being laid off from her job. Though she had taken classes a few times before, this time Eilers was determined to make the best of her educational journey.

“I like to call it a series of unfortunate events that ended up being fortunate for me,” Eilers said. “I had been to college before and not done very well, but I decided this time I would take part in everything I could.” Eilers did indeed take part in many different clubs and groups including being president of the Human Services Club, participating in TRIO, being a Student Ambassador and more.

She was also awarded the Non-traditional Student of the Year award (right) as well as the Social Services Student award. “I didn’t fully realize until I saw that multiple instructors had nominated me for Nontraditional Student of the Year, that I had so many people supporting me and backing me up,” Eilers said. “I fully support anyone going to Lake Land because it is super clear to me how much they want you to do well.”

Eilers (far left) with fellow nominees for Non-traditional Student of the Year in 2016.

Eilers also had some words of wisdom to pass along regarding her college experience.

“You can go to school without knowing what you want to be when you grow up, because school is there to help you learn,” Eilers said. “During my first speech, I got up there and ugly cried. I now seek out speaking engagements. If I can do that, then you can achieve your goals and more.”

To learn more about how you can enroll, visit the Lake Land College Social Work program page at lakelandcollege.edu. Look for the Academics Menu and select Academic Areas of Study, then Humanities and Social Sciences.

START YOUR EDUCATIONAL JOURNEY TODAY WITH LAKE LAND COLLEGE

Whether you attended college before or thought it wasn't for you, we know everyone's journey is different. Our goal is to provide a seamless transition for you no matter where you are in your unique path.

YOU MAY BE:

-Enrolling as a first time student or first generation college student;

-Finishing a certificate or degree because you now have time;

-Looking to “skill up” for your job or seeking a promotion by finishing or starting a degree or certificate;

-Wanting to take a few courses and then transfer on to get a bachelor’s degree; or

-Utilizing tuition reimbursement from your employer to further your education.

Small class sizes allow you to collaborate, be creative and learn from others. Hands-on learning labs give you the opportunity for real-world training for the workforce. If your goal is to earn a bachelor’s degree, academic counselors are available to help you through the process of transferring to a university.

We will help you reach your goals! If you're ready to start your journey, reach out today!

CONTACT

Brittany Aiken

Community Outreach Coordinator

baitken4566@lakelandcollege.edu

217-234-5429