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The Dhom family has found a common thread in their academic journeys: Lincoln Trail College. LTC has not only shaped their individual paths but has become an integral part of their family narrative.
The Dhom family's connection with LTC began with parents Laura and her husband, who pursued traditional associate degree programs right after high school. Their experience set the stage for what would become a family tradition. Laura reflects on this shared experience, saying, "It means a lot because we've all used LTC for different reasons, for different goals with our education. We all have different degrees in different fields. And so it really means that we were able to benefit as an entire family from LTC."
Following in their parents' footsteps, the Dhom children took their own unique paths through LTC. Their daughter began taking LTC classes during her junior and senior years of high school. Then came Ethan, the latest Dhom to grace LTC's virtual and physical classrooms, who completed his entire associate degree while still in high school.
Ethan Dhom's experience at LTC has been nothing short of transformative. "My experience here at LTC has been very good," Ethan shares. "I started off with Intro to Chemistry here in person, and that was a really good first step of learning what college life was like and how professors were and how it all went together."
Now a freshman at Purdue University pursuing mechanical engineering, Ethan credits LTC for his smooth transition. "Purdue actually accepted all of my LTC courses as is. I'm going in as a sophomore right now and I can't ask for much more," he explains. This head start not only saves time and money but also alleviates the stress of overbooked classes that many of his peers face.
For the Dhom family, LTC has served as more than just a local college. It's been a crucial stepping stone between the small-town high school experience and the challenges of a large university. Laura emphasizes this point: "There's a transition that happens when you're leaving such a small, tight-knit community and then going into, far, going far away from home into a bigger community. So it's helped that transition."
Ethan echoes this sentiment, adding, "LTC kind of allows you to bridge that gap at a slower pace. And I think it's nice."
When asked what advice she would give to students considering LTC, Laura doesn't hesitate: "I would tell them to definitely consider LTC as well as all the IECC colleges for the courses they need. It's a great way for our students in Crawford County to supplement their education, to be prepared for that next step and to really go into the four-year college experience with confidence."
To parents, Laura emphasizes the importance of collaboration: "Work closely with your school, work closely with the advisors at LTC, and also work closely with the four-year school that your student is desiring to go to."
As Ethan embarks on his journey at Purdue, carrying with him the foundation built at LTC, the Dhom family's story serves as a testament to the power of community colleges in shaping not just individual futures, but family legacies. Their experience highlights how institutions like Lincoln Trail College can provide a bridge to higher education, fostering academic growth and personal development along the way.
