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To commemorate their journeys from application to graduation, ACT has invited these scholars to share their stories. Landen Eidahl is a sophomore at Kirkwood Community College pursuing a degree in business administration with plans to graduate this spring and enroll at a four-year college.

What was your motivation for going to college?

Growing up, I have always had the motivation to be highly successful, do what I love, and go to college. However, when I was diagnosed with petit mal epilepsy, I was told I may struggle when it came to learning. In elementary school, I noticed that I would “space out” during everyday activities. These episodes would occur during school and when I was doing physical activities. It took a lot of testing, but I was eventually diagnosed with epilepsy. Those times when I would space out were little seizures. I was put on medication and told that I might have to take it the rest of my life to manage the seizures.

Even though this was a scary moment in my life, I was still determined to succeed. This diagnosis became motivation as I had to work hard to keep up. I was able to continue my success in the classroom and out. And, after many years, my symptoms started to go away. I was able to get off the medication and eventually get accepted into college. Even though I don’t experience symptoms anymore, this part of me that could have been a hinderance in my journey has become a strong motivator to succeed in college and beyond.

What are you studying? What degree do you hope to earn?

I am studying business administration. I plan on getting my general education classes done at Kirkwood and then transferring to a four-year college to earn my bachelor's degree. Kirkwood is the best option for me in the beginning stages of my college career.

Why did you select this area of study?

The business classes I took in high school were interesting. Just like my mom, I have an interest in becoming an entrepreneur. I know a business background will help me if I decide that is the route for me. I have many role models who started their own businesses from scratch. They are successful and never feel like they are working because they love what they are doing so much. I want that for myself.

No matter where my path leads me, I want to enjoy what I am doing. A business degree will help me explore different aspects of business that will be useful in narrowing down my degree even more.

Who inspired or supported you in your college-going journey?

Throughout my life, my mom has always been my biggest inspiration. My mom grew up in a low-income family and she always wanted better. Her goal was to be a first-generation college graduate. She was able to accomplish that all while working multiple jobs to pay for it. After college, she carried her success into the business world. She started her own brand and was able to quit her full-time job to pursue a true passion of hers.

When I think of the American dream, I think of my mom. That dream has been instilled in me from watching her. Just like it was for my mom, I want college to be the launchpad that sets me up for success.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as a college student and how did you work to overcome it?

My first year of college was a challenge because of my time management, or lack thereof. I was a full-time student and I also wanted to try new things and pursue different endeavors.

I was hired to be an assistant college basketball coach. It was something I had thought about doing and this was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up. It was difficult balancing that, being a full-time student, and working my part-time job. It was all worth it in the end because I learned so much and it taught me the importance of time management and resiliency.

What advice would you give to a college student today?  

Pave your own path; don’t let other people tell you what you can and cannot do. The journey will be challenging but also very rewarding. If you are persistent, curious, informed, and faithful you will achieve more things than you imagined. Stay strong and believe.

What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve them?

Throughout college, my goal has always been to find a career I can pursue after I graduate. That being said, I am planning to try new things as I continue with my college career. I did that last year, and I hope to continue that this year.

I started the school year taking an acting class at Kirkwood. It is out of my comfort zone, but it was something new to try. I am also planning on joining clubs, participating in intramurals, and continuing coaching.

What does this ACT scholarship mean to you? How does it affect your education journey?

This scholarship was a monumental moment in my life. I am responsible for paying for college and this scholarship has eased that responsibility and made my first two years in college less stressful.

Just like my mom, I work hard to pay for college. This scholarship has allowed me to focus on my classes and my studies. It has also allowed me to pursue opportunities I never thought possible. This scholarship has had a tremendous impact on my academic trajectory and personal growth.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Kirkwood has been a great experience that will impact the rest of my life. This is where it all started. Kirkwood is the launch pad for the rest of my journey. It will always hold a special place in my heart. Whenever I am asked what a high schooler should do after high school, I always recommend Kirkwood. It is such a great start to the college experience and the ACT scholarship is an opportunity that can make the transition that much better.

By: Drs. Cristina Anguiano-Carrasco, senior research scientist; Nancy Lewin, senior director, ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning; and Jill McVey, research scientist

The 2024 Women’s History Month theme is “Women Who Advocate for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion.” Recent research authored by women representing ACT’s Center for Equity in Learning and ACT Research explore how developing test content aligned with diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility practices can influence students’ testing experience.

“Culturally relevant assessment seeks to increase equity for success with test items that elevate different cultures and spread cultural knowledge,” wrote Drs. Anguiano-Carrasco, Lewin, and McVey. “[Students] reported that seeing themselves represented in test items made them feel included, motivated, empowered, and supported.” As we celebrate women who advocate for equity, diversity, and inclusion, we asked this team to discuss their work on culturally relevant test questions and the representation of diverse perspectives in assessments to advance student success.

The evidence shows that culturally relevant test questions play a critical role in creating inclusive, supportive, and empowering assessment environments that enable all students – from different cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds – to thrive academically and personally. But how do students feel about this sort of test content? And does it provide the same valid, objective data as more traditional test items?

In our recent research on developing culturally relevant questions and items for math and science assessments, students told us they want test content that is more diverse but measures the same skills as legacy items. This content features culturally authentic materials free of stereotypes, raising awareness and promoting cross-cultural learning. It ensures test fairness by minimizing how cultural context affects difficulty.

When students saw their cultures represented in test questions, many reported a positive experience. One Black 11th grader told us, “I think it does matter … it could interest more people in the test. So, they’ll actually look forward to answering it. Because sometimes they come in these tests and they’re dreading it.”

As leaders who have advocated for diversity, equity, and inclusion to drive systemic change, we know student success is central to goal setting and decision making. The quickest ways to lose a student’s interest are alienation, irrelevance, and not allowing them to see themselves in their learning context. This disengagement can harm academic performance and dissuade persistence in education and career paths.

That’s why, along with our colleague Dr. Jeff Steedle, we decided to explore this topic. Our research promotes evidence-based understanding to help identify inequities, disparities, and barriers that can affect how students perform on assessments – and we found that test content can indeed be psychometrically strong while simultaneously engaging to students. When we remove barriers, we empower students to be engaged and motivated and provide opportunities to help them succeed.

When researchers include the student voice, we can amplify the perspectives of people from marginalized communities. Culturally relevant test items not only help these students perform better, they also help to spread cultural knowledge among peers.

The students in our research felt that ACT was supporting them and their cultures, as expressed by a Latina 11th grader: “For that question to have made it onto the test, obviously, there’s someone up there pushing for my culture and my people.”

By acknowledging and validating students’ identities and backgrounds and countering negative stereotypes, we can foster a sense of value and confidence in their potential. This approach contributes to more diverse and inclusive assessments, creating a fairer education system with broader implications for student learning and well-being.

To commemorate their journeys from application to graduation, ACT has invited these scholars to share their stories. Eva Smith is a first-generation Filipino-American student at Kirkwood Community College pursuing an associate’s degree in nursing with plans to graduate this spring.

Who was your motivation for going to college?

My grandmother was my largest motivation for going to college and pursuing nursing. She was diagnosed with stage three lung cancer in 2021. Throughout the process of diagnosing, treating her cancer, and hospice care, all of my grandmother’s nurses were phenomenal. My grandmother has always supported and inspired me throughout my college journey. She was always interested in hearing about everything I was learning.

What are you studying? What degree do you hope to earn?

I am currently studying nursing. After graduating Kirkwood with my associate’s in nursing this spring, I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in nursing and Master of Science in nursing from the University of Iowa.

Why did you select this area of study?

I chose nursing because I have always felt such fascination with all aspects of the human body and immense compassion for those in need. Throughout my life, I have learned about the health inequities among people of color, people with low socioeconomic status, and those in the LGBTQ+ community. Although I am only one person, I plan to facilitate change, advocate for, and promote higher quality of care for these vulnerable populations.

What was the biggest challenge you faced as a college student and how are you working to overcome it?

The biggest challenge I have faced as a college student is finding a good school-work-life balance. I tend to overwork myself both in school and my job, leaving little time to relax and enjoy life. I just remind myself that if I can’t take care of myself, I won’t be able to take care of others once I’m a nurse.

What advice would you give to a first-generation college student today?

Be gentle with yourself. I think it is easy to feel overwhelmed with the expectation to be perfect, especially being a first-generation college student. Life is hard and you can do hard things, but remember to take care of yourself, too.

What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve them?

My current goal is to graduate from Kirkwood and to pass my National Council Licensure Examination for Registered Nurses exam! After I graduate, I plan to keep studying until my nursing board exams.

What does this ACT scholarship mean to you? How does it affect your education journey?

The ACT scholarship means that people believe in my abilities to succeed! It has provided me with the opportunity to focus more on school and less on worrying about making enough money to pay for rent, tuition, and food.

By: Dr. Kate Walton, principal research scientist

Recent ACT research highlights a strong tie between social and emotional skills and postsecondary enrollment and retention rates. For educators and others who support student success, understanding which specific skills contribute to these outcomes can help improve students' readiness for life after high school.

In recognition of National SEL Day 2024, on March 8, Dr. Kate Walton, co-author of the research and principal research scientist at ACT, details which social and emotional skills are most predictive of college enrollment and retention, and how educators and advocates can encourage the development of these skills for high school students so that they are empowered in their postsecondary endeavors.

Joe T. Wood, special projects coordinator at Hardeman County Schools in Tennessee, sees opportunity amid what he calls the "fourth industrial revolution." He spoke with ACT at the 2023 Workforce Summit about how skills-based hiring addresses changing workforce demands.

As Joe explains, skills-based hiring shifts the focus to employers, offering a more deliberate and transparent approach to assessing essential skills. He also gives insight into the need for a more flexible and responsive approach to career readiness to address the reality that “every kid’s going to have a career.”

Reflecting on obstacles and opportunities, Joe underscores the importance of rethinking traditional models to prepare students for diverse career pathways.

Hear all of Joe’s valuable insights in the video.

What was your motivation for going to college?

My passion for mechanical engineering, which allows me to solve technical problems in the community, is my main motivation. It was this desire that prompted me to return to school to pursue an engineering program.

Why did you select this area of study?

When I was a teenager, I was very excited by the idea of seeing vehicles in motion. One day, I asked my parents what made the vehicle move. They told me it was hard to explain because they didn't know anything about it. As I grew older, I realized that I'd been interested in engineering from a very early age. This intense passion for engineering led me to choose my current field of study in order to solve the community's technical problems.

Who inspired or supported you in your college-going journey?

It was my high school teacher who encouraged me to solve problems, as he was a mechanical engineer. What's more, I've had a passion for mechanical engineering since I was very young, and I've always said I'd be a mechanical engineer.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a college student and how are you working to overcome it?

My main challenges are to study English as a second language, finance my tuition and fees, and manage my time between my life as a full-time student and my life as a parent. I continue to learn English every day to improve my comprehension by taking English classes. In addition, I work full time at Worley Corporation as a forklift driver to cover my tuition and other bills as a parent. Finally, I work on weekends so that I can devote my weekdays to my studies.

What advice would you give to a first-generation college student today?

I'm a first-generation student and I'm old. I know it's not easy to study if you don't have a role model of academic success in your family. I'd like to encourage you to be determined and not give up on your dream because your parents didn't go to college. You can do better than your parents if you want to.

What goals have you set for yourself? How do you plan to achieve them?What does this ACT scholarship mean to you? How does it affect your education journey?

Working full time and being a full-time student is a terrible situation. But thanks to this scholarship, I'll be able to pay my tuition fees and reduce my working hours to devote more time to my studies. This scholarship represents a great support and helps me achieve my current and future academic goals.

Anything else you’d like to share?

I plan to continue my graduate studies until I obtain a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering, with a specialization in the energy field. I then hope to obtain a teaching position at an American university. I will also return to the University of Kinshasa in Congo, to teach students and share with them the results of my difficult journey as an immigrant to the United States.