“I had a lot of questions in my life at that time. It was like, why me? I think a lot of people with disabilities do ask why this has happened to them.”
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ut she stuck with it and doesn’t regret it to this day. Vicki graduated with a degree in religion with a minor in psychology. “At Augustana you’re required to take religion courses and they really intrigued me. They were great classes, and the more I took, the deeper the interest I felt. I had no idea what I would do with it since I’m a Catholic so being a pastor wasn’t an option.” Following graduation, Vicki found a use for her degree working for the Catholic Diocese of Sioux Falls. “I was at the Diocese for five years and I’m very glad I chose that route,” she says. “I learned a lot more about people with all types of disabilities, not just physical ones. I really learned that everybody has abilities, gifts and talents, no matter what disability they have. I learned a lot from my clients rather than the other way around. It was an amazing experience.” Vicki also worked for rehabilitation services in Sioux Falls as a counselor aide for two and a half years and then moved forward to a position with Prairie Freedom Center for Independent Living (currently Independent Living Choices). “I was the development director, so I was responsible for public relations, fundraising and grant writing,” Vicki says.