Carissa Kobel

Carissa joined SCPS due to her motivation to overcome a challenging academic history and pursue higher education. Despite initial setbacks, Carissa successfully proved her commitment to academics and adopted a flexible approach, taking one class every eight weeks to balance family, work, and school.

"Straight out of high school, I didn't take school seriously, so I only went for a little while. Eighteen years later, I really did want to go to Loyola just because the pedigree is higher and it's accredited. They did take a chance on me, and I've been doing school at my own pace. I take one class every 8 weeks."

As an ambassador, Carissa supports prospective students, particularly those unsure about fitting education into their lives. 

Despite initial reservations about synchronous learning, Carissa finds the format beneficial for engaging with classmates and delving deeper into course content. She emphasizes the importance of SCPS offering both synchronous and asynchronous options, providing students with choices that suit their preferences and schedules.

Looking ahead post-graduation, Carissa aims for career advancements within the mortgage industry, aspiring to reach a role such as Vice President. She recognizes the dual benefits of gaining a degree, not only proving her capability but also enhancing her job market competitiveness in an industry undergoing fluctuations.

To those considering returning to school as adults, Carissa advocates for SCPS's accommodating and supportive environment. She encourages prospective students to make their own plans and highlights Loyola's commitment to allowing individuals to build compatible educational paths. 

"If you have questions and you're scared about different things, there's different people that you can talk to about your class and whatnot. But if you just want to brainstorm with somebody that was in your same position,  I like to be that middle person for them."