LCCC Great Grads

Karen Paulsen

	Ashley (left) and Karen Paulsen

Inspiration for a career change can be found in the most unlikely places. Just ask Karen Paulsen of Oberlin.

The mother of three who had been working in a greenhouse for several years had to spend a lot of time taking her daughter Ashley to physical therapy following ACL surgery on her knee due to a basketball injury Ashley suffered as a sophomore in high school.

At the same time Paulsen was thinking about what she wanted to do with her life. “I was still trying to figure out what I wanted to be when I grew up,” Paulsen said with a laugh.

While at the physical therapist’s office she had many conversations with him about physical therapy as a career.  “He encouraged me to think about this field for a career so I checked out the LCCC physical therapy assistant program,” Paulsen said. Because she also actively exercises, the thought of working as a physical therapist assistant “was very enticing to me,” she said.

That was four years ago and Paulsen, now 53, is ready to graduate this month with her associate of applied science degree in physical therapy assisting. “Somehow I got accepted into the program,” she joked. “And it took me four years because I took my prerequisites over two years in night classes. But I did it.”

Although she had earned a degree right out of high school in the data processing field in her home state of Illinois, the thought of returning to college was somewhat daunting.

“There was a big diversity in the ages of students in my classes,” Paulsen said. “But I found the other students looked at me as a student, not as a mom of three adult kids.” Fortunately, she added, her children were all old enough when she started the program that they weren’t relying on her as much as when they were younger so she could concentrate on school.       

“My husband and kids were very supportive. There were so many times I doubted myself, but with their support and the support of my classmates in the program I made it,” she said.

After graduation she’ll study for another month and then take her state board test for certification. “I want to help people develop a plan to improve their lives,” she said.

That sounds like an inspiring goal.