Two students, two journeys: A look at starting the semester in 2025

When Laramie Nutter packed her bags in Rapid City, South Dakota, the excitement she had long felt about going to college started to mix with nerves. She had always looked forward to the next step in her education, but as move-in day approached Aug. 15 at Laramie County Community College in Cheyenne, Wyoming, the unknowns weighed on her. Would she find her classes? Would she feel at home nearly 400 miles from her family?

“It was just the unknown of everything. You don’t know how it’s going to go,” Laramie said. “It could go really good; it could go really bad. You just don’t know what’s going to happen.”

The trip to Cheyenne felt like a full production. Her family traveled in three vehicles, including her pickup and horse trailer with three horses inside. Once they arrived on campus to help her move into the residence halls, her parents stayed through the weekend before heading home, giving Laramie extra time to settle in.

Those first days at LCCC erased much of her nervousness. Rodeo coaches Dean Finnerty and Vickie Segelke had already made the rodeo team feel like family, and upper class teammates had texted her before she arrived to offer support. Her peers, Laramie said, helped her navigate everything from finding classrooms to adjusting to residence hall life.

Most of Laramie’s rodeo friends had gone to different schools in the region. But it didn’t take long for her Rodeo teammates at LCCC to jump in to welcome Laramie.

“It was a little nerve-wracking at first, but all the other girls jumped right in and were really nice. The boys on the team always ask if we need help with anything,” Laramie said. “My roommate has been awesome, too, which I was really grateful for. You hear some scary stories about college roommates, but mine has been really helpful.”

Choosing a new path

Levi Kaiser remembers those feelings. Now 27, he knows what it’s like to start fresh and wonder if you belong. Levi already had a bachelor’s degree in outdoor recreation, tourism management and environmental sciences from the University of Wyoming, but after stints living in Phoenix and Oregon, he realized he wanted to return to Wyoming for family, the outdoors and stability. He turned to LCCC’s Radiography Program for a new career path.

“I just wasn’t happy with my degree or where I was at, and I knew I needed to make a change,” he said. I wanted to move closer to home after being away from family for a long time — it’s hard and really expensive to travel back for the holidays. I missed Wyoming, the whole area, and as an avid outdoorsman, living in big cities just wasn’t for me.”

Knowing he wanted to go into the medical field, Levi researched what several institutions had to offer. He said LCCC stood out among his other options.

“I did a bunch of research, and LCCC’s program was super highly rated,” he said. “They had the data right there — a 100% student pass rate on the registry over the last decade and a 100% employment rate for about the same time. It’s federally certified, so you’re licensed in any state, and I just thought, you really can’t beat that.”

Overcoming early challenges

Even so, starting over wasn’t easy. Returning to the classroom after years away left him worried about keeping up with classmates mostly fresh out of high school. He felt impostor syndrome in those first semesters, wondering if he belonged. The adjustment meant relearning how to study, how to block time and how to structure days around a demanding program.

“It was a bit of a challenge at first. You get accustomed to graduating, working and not being in school, then you come back and it takes more discipline and drive,” Levi said. “Even small things, like changes in technology and the way classes are structured, felt different. I was nervous going back, especially at 27 in classes full of 18- to 20-year-olds. The biggest challenge was getting back into that mindset of structuring my days and being disciplined, but I learned I could do it.”

Laramie, too, faced her early challenges. On the first day of class she got lost, mistaking the Health Sciences Building for the Pathfinder Building, where her history course was held. A lifeline call to her suitemate, a sophomore, guided Laramie over the phone while sitting in class herself. Laramie rushed in five minutes late, bracing for disapproval, but instead her instructor welcomed her warmly.

“The instructors have been so easy to talk to and willing to help,” Laramie said. “They understand that we're all kind of still getting in the groove of things, still navigating everything, and it’s made the transition easier.”

Support makes the difference

Where Laramie has leaned on teammates, roommates and family to ease her transition, Levi found his confidence through faculty leadership and clinicals. Program Director Ashleigh Ralls and Clinical Coordinator Kacee Hansen — both alumni of LCCC’s Radiography Program — structured the curriculum so that knowledge builds step by step. Their support, from answering emails late at night before exams to checking in during daily clinicals, ensured Levi never felt left on his own.

“The way the program is structured really builds your confidence, and that comes from how much time Kacee and Ashleigh put into it,” Levi said. “You start with the basics and build from there, so your knowledge and confidence grow together. They’ve been through the program and worked in the field, and they share that experience with us every day in clinicals and in the lab. You’re not being thrown to the wolves; they build you up and give you the tools to succeed.”

Growing in confidence

The program’s rigor also pushed Levi to grow. In clinicals, radiologic technicians sometimes hand him the lead role in procedures, telling him to “run the show” while they stand by as backup. Those moments confirmed for him that he was capable and belonged in the field. Over time, the doubt that marked his early semesters gave way to confidence that he could take on challenges at any level.

Faculty support has been a theme for both students. For Laramie, professors and Student Success Coaches have reached out directly in her first weeks to ensure she feels on track. She noted how approachable instructors have been, and how quickly staff have responded when she had questions.

Both students have thought carefully about the value of their education. Levi, pragmatic and data-driven, says it’s hard to argue that college isn’t worth it, pointing to livable wages, adaptability and long-term quality of life. Given the quality of programs and support he’s received at LCCC, the trade offs, Levi said, are, for him, clearly worth it.

“I’m a very data-driven person, and I think it’s bogus to say the return on investment isn’t there,” Levi said. “I valued what I got out of my first degree, and I love being challenged in that way, so for me it was a no-brainer to come back. I’ve seen friends and family who didn’t go to college struggle with work-life balance, while those who did typically have a better quality of life. That personal experience reinforced for me that college is worth it.”

The road ahead

In her first semester, Laramie is still adjusting to life in Cheyenne — managing rodeo, classes and feeling grateful she is taking the first steps toward a future she believes will be worth it. For Levi, the opportunity to forge a new path through education is an exciting chance to remold his life, always striving for better. For both students, LCCC is a gateway to the lives they want to live.

“I feel like I’m getting into the groove of things, even though I had some nerves coming in,” Laramie said. “Everyone says your freshman year is going to be a big adjustment, and it has been busy balancing rodeo and academics. But my professors have been so willing to answer questions and make sure I’m on top of everything, and that’s made it so much easier. I really haven’t had too hard of a time yet — knock on wood.”