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A Mother-Daughter Journey at Rock Valley College

• Students
• 07/24/2025

At Rock Valley College, students come for all kinds of reasons, personal growth, fresh starts, new dreams but for mother-daughter duo Allie and Traci Carlson, their time at RVC has been a shared chapter of courage, connection, and rediscovery.

 

Allie Carlson arrived at RVC in 2023, eager to start her college journey. “RVC provides so many opportunities to get involved and meet other students and faculty members that I share similar interests with, and it has greatly helped me get out of my comfort zone!” she says.

For Allie, starting college was a huge step after being homeschooled from kindergarten through high school and navigating life as a student with social anxiety. “As someone who deals with AuDHD, Generalized Anxiety Disorder, and Social Anxiety Disorder, I was very nervous about making the transition from high school to college,” she shares. “That being said, I am so grateful for how accommodating and encouraging RVC has been since the very beginning. All of my teachers that I’ve had the pleasure of working with have been super supportive and understanding, making me feel very comfortable about contacting them if I experience any difficulties.”

Allie is pursuing her Associate of Arts degree in Media Studies and has enjoyed getting involved in different campus activities. One exciting experience was being part of an RVC commercial. “Working with the marketing department was an absolute blast. I loved every second of it,” Allie said. “When I was recording my part in the commercial, Brent Jepsen made me feel very comfortable, like I could just be myself and that he walked me through the process of exactly what he needed.”

Brent Jepsen, Multimedia Content Creator in RVC’s Marketing Department, shared, “Allie is a joy to be around and a talented actor! I had the pleasure of working with her on a recent RVC commercial for television and she far exceeded what we were looking for in the role. She brings a level of professionalism and thoughtfulness to each project she works on and it is clear that she has a bright future ahead of her!”

Traci Carlson, Allie’s mother, has a journey that looks different but is just as meaningful. For her, returning to college was the fulfillment of a goal she’d held for more than 30 years. She first attended college decades ago but put her education on pause to raise her family. After homeschooling Allie through high school, she realized it was finally time to return, not just to finish her degree, but to rediscover a part of herself. “After raising a family and homeschooling my daughter from kindergarten through high school graduation, I am happy to say I am finishing my last class and earning my Associate of Arts degree.”

Now completing her Associate of Arts with a focus on Human Services and Education, Traci reflected on returning to college as a non-traditional student. Traci said, “I was worried I was going to be super self-conscious, and people weren’t going to like take me seriously or accept me sitting in class with a bunch of 19-year-olds. But that was not the case at all. RVC has provided me the opportunity to complete my degree in a welcoming and inclusive atmosphere. Their support is constant, their dedication unmatched. All my professors have been willing to take the time needed to help in whatever ways they can.”

Both Carlsons found themselves drawn to the service and leadership opportunities within Phi Theta Kappa.

For Traci, being a member of Phi Theta Kappa has always been a point of pride. “It’s just always been something I’ve been very proud of, because it truly is earned and it takes a lot to be a member. You have to really be academically aware and strive for good academic excellence. And for years I’ve had very old Phi Theta Kappa sweatshirts and coffee mugs and trivets and things,” she said.

One particularly memorable PTK moment was participating in the college’s time capsule opening. “Phi Theta Kappa had made a time capsule 25 years ago, and we just recently opened it. It was very exciting seeing all that was in there, and it was a big deal,” Traci said. “There was also a video cassette tape that was made by the people who originally did the time capsule when they were first closing it up,” Allie added. “So, we played that, and we made sure to preserve that video to make sure it stays good and intact, and it was shockingly high quality.”

One of their most memorable experiences came in a Speech-131 class they decided to take together. Both Allie and Traci were nervous about taking a public speaking class. “We both had a lot of anxiety having to take speech, so we decided to team up and support each other,” Traci recalls. “It has been a fun and unforgettable experience that most people would never get to know.” Allie adds, “We were able to laugh through the nerves and grow together.”

Their Speech-131 instructor, Amanda Kieper, spoke highly of their presence in the classroom. “Traci and Allie Carlson are a dynamic and unforgettable mother-daughter duo. They are a teacher's dream. Each and every class they are fully invested and lean into the moment, the lesson, and the possibility of transformation. They added so much value to the classroom culture that all of us were better because of them.”

Now approaching graduation, Allie plans to transfer to Northern Illinois University to continue studying media and television production. Traci hopes to remain close to the education world, possibly work with neurodivergent students, those needing accommodations or possibly those right at RVC.

When they reflect on their time at Rock Valley, both speak with deep gratitude. “RVC gave me space to grow, fail, try again, and find my people. I discovered who I am here.” Traci adds, “It’s never too late to go back to school. This journey has been everything I hoped for—and more.”

Together, Allie and Traci have shown that learning doesn’t have an age limit and that sometimes, the most meaningful education comes from walking the path together.