RENEWING CONFIDENCE

HOW STRONG FEMALE STUDENTS

AT SOUTH CENTRAL COLLEGE ARE HITTING THEIR STRIDE

BY NATE BOOTS

PHOTOS BY MICHELLE ISEBRAND PHOTOGRAPHY

Look around you, 'Katoans young and old. At every winter's conclusion there begins a renewal. From the greening of all things growing to the revving of all things revitalized, the coming of the Vernal Equinox puts a spring into every stepper's stride and a spritz into every sprite's spirit.

An especially vibrant faction of female students at Upper North Mankato's South Central College (SCC) is riding a wave of renewed confidence in various—and sometimes surprising—fields of study. And in a society where gender-equity consciousness is gaining longsought and well-deserved steam, this is a welcome development indeed.

Lindsey Lawton, a graduate of Mankato East high, is in her second year of study at SCC, where she has been working on getting her welding certificate. She first became familiar with welding at East when she took an elective course in welding, something not every high schooler gets to try. Playing off earlier interests in hands-on artmaking, Lawton's fire was soon well-lit by the blowtorch and the to-the-millimeter-exactitudes of welding. "To me, it’s a very stimulating full body practice," says Lawton. "I don’t become disinterested for hours, and I love working towards perfecting the many elements of precision that go into a good weld." South Central College, with its strong welding program and talented and approachable instructors, then, became a target for Lawton as a post-high school option. "I appreciated the teachers quite a bit," says Lawton of SCC's instructors. "They were all incredibly kind and willing to get to know the students and helped encourage particular talents." Lawton, whose parents are both educators and whose older brother also welds, was also given the chance to do demonstrations at SCC for her classmates, something she appreciates. Teachers facilitated this because not only is she highly capable, she has an inclination toward possibly becoming a teacher herself. She also lauds SCC doing "a great job at allowing students to practice numerous varieties of welding and on diverse metal." Lawton seems so comfortable in her chosen field that it seems almost an afterthought to ask if she has ever been intimidated or worried to have chosen a field where her gender is in the extreme minority. "Gendered opinions have definitely changed," says Lawton. "Most everyone, especially those familiar with the trade, that I’ve interacted with are interested in my journey, and multiple people have shown interest to the point of helping me network. To help some of my anxieties subside, I reassure myself that my determination doesn’t go unnoticed. If I work for it and ask for help, I’ll be able to achieve just about anything." Lawton, who is exceptionally curious and hungry for straight-up knowledge, explains that asking questions and having a strong work ethic are also advantages. She says, "I show up on time, ready to work hard and well. When I’m not sure what to do, I ask so I prevent any accidents." If there's a piece of advice out there to give other young women who might want to follow a similar path, she says that it's to "be prepared to learn and to ask questions. There are so many masters out there who have really good content to share if you just ask. Most people are going to be excited for you to be a part of a trade field, and there are tons of resources to help you."

Growing up in the South Texas town of Mission, Gloria Reyes was an inquisitive child. One of the most memorable questions she had growing up was aimed at her mother when she came home one day to find her mother in a state of panic, announcing that her husband, Gloria's father, had been sent to prison. Young Gloria's question was, "Why?" It seems that her father had been involved in drug trafficking, and his imprisonment sent the family into a spiral. Reyes admits that as a young teen she explored her rebellious side and became pregnant at fifteen. Desiring a change, Reyes moved north to Minnesota to stay with an aunt on her mother's side of the family who had a farm near Nicollet. There, she eventually found stability, but not necessarily intellectual fulfillment. "Having children during and after high school was the biggest obstacle for me," says Reyes. "I knew I wanted to further my education, but the thought kept getting pushed to the back of my mind because I stayed focused on my children and distracted by my busy life." Recently, Reyes finally decided that with her girls—Elora, age 13, and Clarissa, age 10—now old enough to not need constant care, college might be the route to take to sate her inquisitive nature. Another inspiration was her older brother, Ruben, who is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in anthropology at an institution in the South. Also driving Reyes was the feeling that if she didn't try now, she might second-guess herself down the road. Reyes maintains that "going out of your comfort zone can go a long way. I’m doing this for me and being the best role model I can for my daughters." Reyes chose SCC as the place to make things happen. "I couldn’t have picked a better community college," Reyes says. "South Central College is the place. It’s affordable. The instructors are very open and are more than willing to help with any questions you might have, and they are very understanding." She also enjoys the pleasant atmosphere that North Mankato provides. "North Mankato always has cheerful events, especially during warm times," she says. "It's always filled with friendly faces, and it's very diverse. The North Mankato community welcomes everyone." Motivated, in part, by her father's struggles and their effect on her family, Reyes has whittled down her intended fields of study to either law enforcement or social work. She could see herself as an officer on a police force or one in family services. She wants to give guidance to people who, like her, might find themselves faced with needing to get their lives back on track. Setting a good example for her own daughters might be her prime motivation. Reyes says, "I’ve gone this far, and I can see the finish line from where I stand. My daughters will see and learn that no matter the obstacles or what life throws at you, you can dust it off and continue."

Jessica Dewar's electric personality is topped off by a bright and cheery face—even when masked up, as has often been the case during the recent COVID pandemic. That face is one that might look familiar to many North Mankatoans because, for the brunt of the past decade, Dewar has worked as a bartender and server at the NaKato Bar & Grill in the business district in Lower North on Belgrade Avenue. After graduating from Mankato West High, Dewar thought she'd follow in the footsteps of her mother, Chris, a nurse whom she credits for passing down her personable personality. Unfortunately, Dewar soon realized that she didn't have the required passion for studying. After another failed attempt a few years later, Dewar dropped out of college again and began, in earnest, to work jobs that featured customer service, including joining the staff at NaKato in 2014. She also found a passion in becoming a mother to two daughters of her own, Lucy, now 10 years old, and Olive, age 3. When the pandemic hit in 2020, Dewar decided to go back to school with a renewed sense of poise. This time around, Dewar not only takes classes at South Central, but she is also involved in TRIO Student Support Services, a program that helps students who are first-generation, income-eligible, or have a disability. Dewar seems to be flourishing with TRIO by working with this office as a student liaison. "This time around, I have a much bigger and better support system," she explains. "The professors, the [academic] advisors, and the advisors I have in Trio are such great supporters and cheerleaders, and they want you to be the best you can be. They prioritize family and school above everything and are willing to help you get all the supplies and resources you could ever need, which makes being here enjoyable. It feels like the SCC community is a family that looks out for you in every way." Dewar's future plans include attending MSU-Mankato to round out a four-year degree in social work, getting a master's, and aiming for a counseling job for those in need of the kind of services she has come to appreciate. "I think I am trying to instill that anyone can do anything they want to do at any age," Dewar says. "I love giving support and encouragement to students, allowing them to go to school and get the degree they want." In this way, Dewar can see herself doing something familiar, but in a new way: serving others.