Katherine Lena, an outstanding graduate of Colorado State University’s Department of Human Development and Family Studies, overcame the challenges of learning during the COVID-19 pandemic, her mother’s debilitating medical issues, as well as the hardship of living with a learning disability to reach graduation.
Lena came to CSU after graduating with her associate degree from Colorado Mountain College. She chose CSU after touring with her fiancé because of the beautiful campus and surrounding city of Fort Collins.
“I was so excited when I was accepted to CSU,” said Lena. “We loved the green spaces, all the different trees, the atmosphere, it just had all the things we were looking for in a school. Fort Collins has the feel of a small town and a city at the same time.”
Navigating bumps in the road
Lena, who has always been interested in the body and how it works, began her student journey in CSU’s Neuroscience Program and ran into some challenges, including adjusting to her first semester in a new place and the COVID-19 shutdown in her second semester.
“I had a mildly rough first semester, getting to know the campus, having large class sizes, and learning to advocate for myself,” she said. “My second semester was when COVID hit, and everything went online. I had to figure out how to merge home with school which is something I know I struggle with already. I was also taking hard classes, and I just could not focus, and I failed a couple classes,” said Lena. “After that horrible semester I ended up taking planned leave until 2021. I switched majors to human development and family studies and flourished.”
Her life outside of academics posed an incredibly significant challenge as well, when Lena’s mother faced a multitude of medical complications in late 2022 and early 2023, one of which resulted in a leg amputation, and another that put her in critical condition and on a ventilator for three days.
“She has had a long recovery; she is the most positive person I have ever met,” Lena said. “I have had the pleasure of helping her learn how to walk with the help of my sister and my fiancé.”
Finding success
Lena tapped into her family and many resources at CSU to help her succeed, such as the Academic Advancement Center, Adult Learner and Veteran Services, and The Institute for Learning and Teaching.
“I could not have done any of this without the support of my family, professors, my adviser Lucy Paltoo, my Academic Advancement Center adviser Sarah Rodriquez, and my TriO advisor from my community college Andrea,” said Lena.
Overcoming these challenges have been life-changing for her. “Both experiences have changed me in so many ways. They showed me that I can succeed in times of hardship. That I have the perseverance to finish what I started. It shows that with as busy as I am, I still made time for family,” Lena said. “I had many people in my corner helping me find resources that would help with my success.”
Internship and next steps
Lena also participated in activities while being a student. She had an internship with Center Avenue Health and Rehab, where she attended dementia training. She also served as a teaching assistant for Professor Samantha Brown in HDFS 310. In turn, she feels pride in her involvement and the connections she has gained in her work.
“I am proud that I learned to advocate for myself, and I learned to get to know my professors because I have had some really cool professors who I hope to keep in contact with in my future,” Lena said.
Lena said she will miss many aspects of her experience once she graduates from CSU, including the professors and classes that made up her time during her studies.
“I am one of those students who loves to learn new things. I will miss the atmosphere of a lecture hall that is filled with people who want to learn and collaborate. I will also miss my mom driving me to school every day,” Lena said.
After graduation, she will take a gap year while working at Centre Avenue Health and Rehab while she considers her next steps along her education path.
“I am going to miss CSU and I am really proud of myself for completing my bachelor’s degree as a first-generation college student,” she said.”
The Department of Human Development and Family Studies is part of CSU’s College of Health and Human Sciences.
