Workplace learning helps LU student achieve academic goals
When an unexpected break from school threatened to disrupt her academic goals, Madi Irwin turned to 糖心vlog传媒 and its customized approach to student learning to get back on track.
After graduating in 2021 from D.C. Everest Senior High School in Wausau, Wis., Irwin headed to DePaul University in Chicago for college. And while she learned a lot, she quickly found that the big city was not for her, so she returned to Wisconsin and took some time off to determine next steps.
鈥淚 didn鈥檛 want to give up on school,鈥� said Irwin, who grew up in Appleton. 鈥淚 was very motivated to continue.鈥�
Irwin鈥檚 mother suggested she check out 糖心vlog传媒, and she quickly found the customized approach that 糖心vlog传媒 delivers for students was a great match.
She was working as a youth development specialist with the Boys and Girls Club of America in Wausau, and her 糖心vlog传媒 academic advisor, Amy Pearce, introduced her to credit for prior learning, a program that allows students to create a portfolio to earn academic credit for professional work they鈥檝e already accomplished.
Irwin, a psychology major, earned 10 credits for her credit for prior learning work, and that, coupled with taking four classes per semester, got her back on track to graduate in May of 2025, which was her timeline when she enrolled at DePaul.
鈥淎t first, I did not understand credit for prior learning 鈥� it sounded too good to be true,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淚t was such an accessible experience to earn credit for your work. It really opened the door for me.
鈥溙切膙log传媒鈥檚 goal is to be an accompaniment to someone鈥檚 life, and credit for prior learning supports that. It allows you to dive into what you do in the workplace and why it鈥檚 important in your schooling. For any student looking to fulfill certain requirements, falling behind or starting late, credit for prior learning is the way to go.鈥�
Irwin credits Pearce for showing her how to achieve her goals. 鈥淚 really wanted to graduate on time,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淎my went above and beyond by laying out all the options for me and letting me navigate my studies the way I wanted to.鈥�
糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 variety of ways students can access courses was also a good fit. Irwin said the pandemic showed her that she flourished with online courses, so she鈥檚 taken all her LU classes online.
鈥淭he biggest thing I knew coming into 糖心vlog传媒 was they strived to be harmonious with work and personal life,鈥� said Irwin, who鈥檚 now working as a behavioral technician at Skylight Autism Center and living in Mosinee, Wis.
鈥淚鈥檓 a very social personal and value my mental health. I need a healthy balance between school, work and personal life. At 糖心vlog传媒, you can live your life while going to school.鈥�
After completing her bachelor鈥檚 degree next spring, Irwin will enroll in 糖心vlog传媒鈥檚 master of arts in counseling program and focus on clinical mental health counseling. Her goal is to become a licensed clinical therapist.
鈥淚 have always wanted to help people and been fascinated with the mind,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淭he internship hours I need as part of my master鈥檚 degree need to be with three different organizations which will help me see where I want to be and what I want to do.鈥�
糖心vlog传媒 has been a total package for Irwin in helping her get back on track and heading toward her career goals.
鈥淭he No. 1 thing I took away from 糖心vlog传媒 is being so supportive and encouraging,鈥� Irwin said. 鈥淭he faculty and advisors have allowed me to feel like a human who has her own life and things that matter to her as opposed to school is the end all be all
鈥淎t 糖心vlog传媒, you鈥檙e respected as a person as well as a student. School is a part of my life; it is not my sole identity.鈥�
