Austin Vandekerkhove of Coello has been named the April 2021 Rend Lake College Veteran of the Month.
Vandekerkhove started his service in the US Army in March 2017, and he is currently active. He said he chose to enlist because he wanted to do something meaningful and “be a part of something greater.”
“I wanted to do good things and help prevent evil in the world,” Vandekerkhove said. “Ultimately, I wanted to do something worthwhile with my time, and the military was always something I thought about doing. The added benefits of going to school were just a bonus.”
Vandekerkhove said his job in the military was “more grunt work than anything else” but he discovered he had a lot of ambition. One way his experience in the Army prepared him for college was the importance of keeping to a regular schedule.“Time management is very important and being able to balance your daily schedule to complete your tasks on time is crucial to everything you do in life,” he said. “Have a plan, make a routine and manage your time accordingly.”
Vandekerkhove is working on an Associate in Arts degree specializing in criminal justice. He enjoys hanging out, playing games and having a good time with friends in his spare time.
