Kennedy Haut: Almost Two Weeks In and Loving Every Minute

Well, I’ve officially been in Denver for 13 days now and each and every one of those days has been filled with new adventures. I’ve experienced so many things I couldn’t have imagined before beginning this experience. I piled into a tiny car with three of my family members and the majority of my possessions and made the 12-hour journey to Denver. I attended the MLK Jr. Marade at City Park in Denver. I have even become friends with the students from Luther who are also living in the Wartburg West building (hard to imagine, I know). While I am thankful to have the opportunity to try new and exciting things, I also feel I have had little time to reflect on my experiences. So, hey! Why not start now in this blog post.

For anyone who doesn’t know me, My name is Kennedy Haut and I’m from Plainfield, Iowa. I would be lying to you if I said coming to Denver for the semester didn’t make me a little nervous. Coming from a town with the population of 419 people, you can imagine moving to Denver was a bit of an adjustment. I am a social work major with a minor in leadership and plan to attend graduate school after I graduate from Wartburg in May. I am completing my practicum at Mount Saint Vincent Home, doing school social work with children who have been abused, neglected, traumatized or have mental illness. The kids at Mount Saint Vincent have already found a special place in my heart. Although my placement challenges me every day, I wouldn’t have it any other way. I’ve learned more about the development of a child and how trauma can affect the brain than I ever could have in a classroom. Even now, I feel I have grown leaps and bounds as a social worker and person, and I’m so excited to see what experience and knowledge I’ve gained by the end of the semester.

As for living in the city, I’m not surprised by how much I like it. I enjoy having new experiences and always have an open mind when trying new things.  Denver has so much to offer and I will be lucky to have experienced a fraction of it once my time here is through. I have made a “Denver Bucket List” in order to make sure I make the most of my time in Colorado. My list includes things like attending a concert at the Red Rocks Amphitheater, cheering on the Rockies at Coors Stadium, and observing the snow-sculpting contest in Breckenridge. As I look forward to the rest of my time here in Denver, I can’t help thinking of how grateful I am to be a Knight. It’s opportunities like these that reassure me I chose the right school and have truly found what my vocation is.