LCCC student body president finds fulfillment helping others

Laramie County Community College student Kyra Lopez’s path in life is anything but linear. 

Before coming to LCCC, college certainly didn’t seem like it was in the cards. And like many people around the world, Kyra has had to overcome anxiety to make it through her days. But her desire to make a positive impact has led Kyra to a leadership role at the college as the Student Government Association president, and she’s on track to a career that inspires her best qualities to manifest. 

Kyra, 19, was born and raised in Cheyenne, attending Alta Vista Elementary and Carey Junior High schools before making her way to East High School. 

During high school, Kyra was actively involved in the marching band, where she played the trumpet, an instrument she had picked up in the eighth grade. Despite her involvement in band, Kyra didn’t find motivation to do well academically in high school. It wasn’t until Kyra’s senior year that she realized she needed to start carving out a path for her future. 

Although Kyra had potential career interests, she didn’t think college was worth the risk — a view shared by many young people today, reflected in declining higher education enrollment nationwide.

“I didn't want to go to college,” she said. “I hated the thought of being here for years, possibly wasting time and money.” 

Reflecting on her life, Kyra considered her struggles with “crippling anxiety.” Her life experiences showed Kyra that helping others helped her with her own challenges. Around the time she was finishing high school, she said she also contemplated how finding her way to economic security would be a greater challenge without a college credential. 

Finding her path

At the crossroads of those considerations, Kyra said she decided to pursue a degree in the psychology program in the Human and Public Services Pathway at LCCC, seeking to help people with mental health struggles. It took some time for her to realize, however, that she needed to pursue a different avenue in her education. 

While Kyra was still in the psychology program, she began working at Safe Harbor, a children's justice center in Laramie County that focuses on serving abused and neglected children. At Safe Harbor, Kyra had the opportunity to supervise family visits, where she bonded with a first grader who had cognitive delays and dyslexia. Spending time with the first grader during short, 15-minute windows, Kyra helped him with activities like spelling and writing. 

The experiences, Kyra said, were profound. Not only was she bonding with the child; she felt a sense of responsibility for being a positive influence in his life. 

“Those 15 minutes I had with him really let me connect,” Kyra said. “I felt like I was his teacher; someone who could bring the good out of him.”

Kyra said she felt like she was "supposed to be" a teacher, leading her to make the decision to switch her major from psychology to elementary education. 

“It feels like I’m encouraging them to be bold and step into whatever they want to do, say what they want to say, do what they want to do,” Kyra said.“It just makes me feel like I’m bringing them out of their shell and helping them be confident.”

At LCCC, a Pathway is a set of related programs grouped to allow for exploration in multiple areas with low risk of wasting credits or semesters. Because Kyra’s switch to elementary education remained in the same pathway as psychology, she can stay on track to complete her degree on time. 

Inspired to do the difficult things

In her time at LCCC, Kyra’s role in the campus community evolved from being a somewhat reluctant student to a leader. Whether she’s working her student ambassador job in Enrollment Services, attending events or participating in campus organizations, Kyra became a constant and positive presence at LCCC. 

The idea of joining the Student Government Association was simple at first. 

“They paid you,” Kyra said with a laugh. 

After becoming involved for the monetary incentive, Kyra’s engagement quickly grew, with her taking on increasing levels of responsibility. 

Kyra describes herself as an easygoing person who can get along well with a variety of people, even when there are disagreements. When she took on the role of president, Kyra said she wanted to be a leader who set a positive tone for student government meetings and activities. By coming into meetings with an upbeat and encouraging attitude, Kyra believes she can inspire others to follow her lead and bring out the best in the group. 

“I notice how leaders impact people,” she said. “If the person leading isn’t positive, people aren’t going to follow that. So, I try to stay positive and set the tone. If it’s dreadful for everyone, nothing gets done. When I set a positive tone, everyone else starts to feel that way and act differently based on how they're feeling. People can see it in your eyes, and the group feels it collectively.”

Landing on a positive mindset doesn’t necessarily come naturally for Kyra. There’s apprehension, she said, when it comes to walking through the doors at LCCC each day and taking on leadership roles. But it’s about pushing boundaries; finding what she fears and facing it without reservation. 

“I like to feel like things are difficult,” Kyra said. “It occupies my time and my mind, and I like to test the limits. I guess I like to see how much I can do, how much better I can get — that's why I'm so involved. It's about proving to myself that I can do it, because if I didn’t and was too scared, I’d be giving in to anxiety and all those little things you tell yourself. By saying ‘screw it’ and just doing it anyway, it proves to myself that I can do it. I just don’t want to give in to the fear.”

Giving it everything she's got

Whether it’s through setting an example of perseverance as a leader at LCCC or someday helping young children in a career in K-12 schools, Kyra knows the best way to feel right with herself is to help others. That, she said, is the reward of joining communities, like the one she’s found at LCCC. 

“The more I push myself to be in groups and meet people, it just turns out better,” Kyra said. “That’s a fact for me, for sure.”

Kyra said she understands the apprehension people feel about coming to college, whether they’re just finishing high school or looking to change careers. But Kyra’s experience tells her that she’ll get out of college what she puts in. Finding happiness in life, she said, is a journey that people have to want. For Kyra, she’ll find that serenity knowing she’s given life everything she’s got. 

“By the end of the day, I don’t want to feel like I didn’t do my best,” she said. “Have I done everything to change for the better the things that are in my control? If so, then I’ll be good.”