Kyle Behrens took one day off. 

That was all. 

A fire had taken nearly everything: his possessions, his memories, and the place he knew as home. When it started, Behrens ran upstairs to save his dog. By the time it was over, he had to figure out where to stay and how to keep going. 

The next day, he went back to class. 

“I took one day off and then came back so I didn’t fall behind on my studies,” Behrens said. 

That decision says a lot about how he moves through life. Hard things happen. They matter. But they do not get the final word. 
His message is simple: Acts don’t define you. You’re defined by how you move forward. 

Behrens recently graduated from Eastern Iowa Community Colleges (EICC) with an Associate in Arts in Criminal Justice, and served as a commencement speaker. This fall, he plans to transfer to St. Ambrose University to earn a bachelor’s degree and then launch his career in law enforcement.  

“This degree gets me one step closer to my dream job,” he said.  

He first became interested in criminal justice through shows like NCIS and Criminal Minds. The forensic side caught his attention, and he hopes to specialize in it someday.  

“First I have to start out as a police officer,” he said. 

Behrens did not take a straight path to graduation. He started his studies at another community college in Illinois, then dropped all of his classes during his second semester. When he came to EICC, the Clinton campus became something different: a second home. 

There, Behrens got involved. He served as president of Gaming Guild and joined Student Senate. Through both roles, he got to bring forward ideas, get feedback from his peers and support activities that helped students connect. 

He also served as a Student Ambassador, talking with prospective students about EICC, and worked as a peer tutor. 

Outside of class, Behrens worked part time preparing meals for residents at a skilled nursing facility and spending time with them. It was another place where he showed up for people, quietly and consistently. 

That steady approach carried him through college. Behrens earned the Outstanding Student Award twice and made the dean’s list. 

Now, graduation gives him a next step. It also gives him proof that stopping once did not mean he was finished, and losing almost everything did not mean he had to lose his direction. 

For students going through something hard, Behrens keeps his advice direct. 

“Just keep pushing through and eventually you’ll get where you need to go,” he said.