Students at Meramec seek to ’do what they love’
By: Kaitlin Hayes
-Staff Writer-
STLCC-Meramec is actively attempting to increase enrollment of adults 26-40, according to Kim Fitzgerald, coordinator of enrollment management.
“We’re creating our ads to appeal more to adults in this age range,” Fitzgerald said. Currently the number of enrolled students over 25 is much lower than those 25 and under.
Fitzgerald said more adults have been enrolling at Meramec to broaden their employment opportunities.
“Our job as an institution is to make the transition smooth for students and help them see the opportunities they have. We are the transition piece to help them reach their educational goals,” Fitzgerald said.
Dave Engel, 43, was a former FedEx contractor. Last spring Engel sold his FedEx truck to pursue a career as a photographer by taking classes at Meramec.
“It’s weird to be so much older than everyone else, but I’m pretty focused on my degrees, so I’m all business,” Engel said.
In the fall of 2010, Engel enrolled at Meramec with the intention of going into graphic design, which he said he believed had a broader job market. By spring of 2011 Engel realized photography was his passion.
“I’ve had so many jobs in my life. Now I just want to do what I love,” Engel said.
Now a full-time photography student, Engel currently works as a freelance photographer. He photographs everything from senior pictures to family portraits.
Engel is working towards his Associates degree in graphic communications in new media as well as an associates degree in photography. Although he is focusing on photography, Engel still wants the experience graphic design classes will give him.
“I’m here to take as many classes as I can,” Engel said. “I would love to get my degrees, but if that doesn’t happen, it’s okay. In this business it’s your portfolio, not a piece of paper that matters.”
Other students at Meramec begin taking classes before they are 18. Heather Barker is a nontraditional student as well, instead of being older than the average college age, she is only 16.
Barker is still a senior in high school and is dually enrolled at Meramec. She is getting both high school and college credit for the classes she is currently taking.
“There’s such a big variety of students, it’s not much of a surprise to people when I tell them I’m still in high school,” Barker said.
Barker was home-schooled and is now taking classes outside of her home for the first time. She said it was not a difficult transition from being home-schooled to going to Meramec.
“I like that Meramec is open to everyone,” Barker said. “It’s a great foundation for an education.”
On the other hand, certain students at Meramec are taking classes to help them reach out to others. Mary McCarthy, a senior citizen, returned to STLCC-Meramec this fall to get her certificate in creative writing.
“I would like to be able to reach parents who have children with disabilities and tell them they can do it,” McCarthy said.
McCarthy was a single mother with five children. Her youngest of which was diagnosed with contracted meningitis at three months, which left him blind, paralyzed and mentally disabled. He also had seizure disorders, she said.
As a single mother, McCarthy originally wanted to be a nurse. In the 1970s she spent three semesters in the nursing program at Meramec.
Unfortunately, McCarthy did not have the time to complete the program. She left to take care of her son.
McCarthy then attended Maryville University where she received her bachelor’s degree in Psychology in 1976. She then went on to St. Louis University where she received her master’s in Social work in 1986. McCarthy was a social worker for the State of Missouri for 15 years.
McCarthy now returns to Meramec to attain her certificate in creative writing.
“You’re not going to be here forever, so you might as well be as helpful as you can to others,” McCarthy said.
