friday takeout

Carrie Shepard, R.N.

Medical Assistant Instructor | Calmar Campus

What gets you excited about the mission of Northeast Iowa Community College?

I love northeast Iowa and being able to help educate people from our community. I am honored to have the opportunity to give them lifelong skills to be able to go out and work in our local businesses and support their families. This gives me an amazing feeling! There is nothing better to me than helping others. From being a Registered Nurse and helping to taking care of people of all ages, and now educating others to go out and do the same, it gives me a huge feeling of accomplishment and satisfaction to know that I can instill a passion for medicine in others.

Which of the following aspects of your upbringing most contributed in shaping the person you came to be and why/how? (e.g., geography, physical environment (farm, city, housing), community, socio-economic status, religion, or individuals most responsible for your care.)

I believe that being raised by a father who was a Farm Agriculture teacher at Hawkeye Community College and a farm boy himself, he and my mother instilled a great work ethic and morals into their four children. I have had a modest upbringing and have worked my way up, from the Environmental Services department (housekeeper) at the local hospital, to becoming a Registered Nurse and now a Medical Assistant instructor at Calmar. I know that hard work pays off. I feel that if I can do it, anyone can. The more I heard I “couldn’t” do something, the more I wanted to prove to people that I could. I am willing to help anyone who wants it to figure out a way to make things happen for themselves. If you can dream it, you can achieve it.

Who or what shaped your sense of humor?

I believe I got my sense of humor from everyone in my family. Mainly my dad, mom and brother, Doug. Dad always had his crazy “ol’ farmer” sayings and jokes. He would say things like, “I’m busier than a one armed paper hanger!” Then he would laugh at himself. I catch myself saying these crazy things from time to time.

My mom, who is a saint, also had a bit of a raunchy sense of humor. It was so funny to hear her say certain things. I often wonder if it was for shock factor?

My brother, Doug, was always good for a prank or a flatulence joke. He’d never let you down!

What is something you do in your workday that supports the College vision?

I try to listen to my students and be open to their ideas and suggestions about ways information can be presented. I like to ask critical thinking questions that make them really think and not just regurgitate information. I love to see the “wheels turn” as they put together different information that they are learning. To see how they are growing is very rewarding.

What food will you absolutely not, under any circumstances, eat?

Rocky Mountain Oysters.

What do you most want to accomplish at Northeast Iowa Community College?

I just really want to do a great job at teaching. I want to be able to feel that at the end of the day I have thoroughly prepared my students for the workforce. I want to see them leave here feeling qualified for their new position as a Medical Assistant.

What is a guilty pleasure song that you listen to but don't openly admit (until now)?

I still love listening to “Ice, Ice Baby” by Vanilla Ice, “Hammer Time” by MC Hammer and “Baby’s Got Back” by Sir Mix-a-Lot. I know this dates me, but they were such fun songs! I think I can sing almost every word to “Ice, Ice Baby” and “Baby’s Got Back.” I totally embarrass my kids when I crank it up, start “rapping” and dancing. It is my job to embarrass them, after all. Someday, they will appreciate it.

Have you ever had a moment where you thought, "Well, this is going to shape who I am!"; or "This is sure going to be a character builder!" Please share.

I have had so many great or bad life experiences, depending on if you are a pessimist or an optimist. I have learned so much from working with the public. People aren’t always the nicest when they aren’t feeling well or are dealing with life-changing events. There is also the extreme opposite; people who are dealing with awful things and they are the kindest, most thankful people you will ever meet.

I think the one thing I have learned is that life is going to happen to all of us, good or bad. How you internalize the situation is a choice. If you look at the experience with horrible feelings, it is truly going to feel awful and take you a long time to heal. If you can find the brighter side to the situation, you will get through the tough times faster and learn the lesson that came with the situation more quickly.

When you don’t focus on the negative, you can move on much faster.