Kim Liwanag, a resilient and determined spirit, has been chasing her dreams in the music industry. 

A 22-year-old student at Columbia College Chicago, Liwanag knew that she wanted a career that involved music but she had no interest in performing.

Liwanag had an interest in helping musicians fulfill the technical aspects of their craft. This interest helped her decide that majoring in audio design and production was right for her. 

In her early years at Columbia, Liwanag faced uncertainty. She felt behind in her courses, given that she had less experience in the music industry than her peers.

Without connections or opportunities to get jobs, there was a level of ambiguity in her academic path.

This haze was lifted after she had the opportunity to explore more options at Columbia, where she learned that audio production and design could be used in film.

Fulfilling the visual component of her learning style while providing the opportunity to explore more creative freedoms and collaborate with a diverse team, Liwanag found her corner of the world. 

 “A once-in-a-lifetime experience,” Liwanag said; describing her first experience on a film set. “When you think of movies I think of Hollywood right away. It was like this golden side of California was there, and if I were to be a part of it. I don’t know, it seemed magical.” 

This clarity and vision for her future helped Liwanag remain motivated to work hard despite her busy schedule. With a part-time job, 18 credit hours of class and a freelance job through her website; kimberlyliwanag.com, Liwanag has many responsibilities. Fortunately, her passion encourages her to remain driven and disciplined.

“I’m so determined with my career goals,” Liwanag said. “I know what I want, and if I know what I want and I want to achieve it, then I just have to work for it.”

This diligence is proven through her decision to take an online course at Elgin Community College as a means of sticking to her four year graduation plan. 

Before transferring to Columbia, Liwanag attended ECC to complete her general education courses during the start of the pandemic. This semester, she learned that she was three credits short of graduating on time. Deciding that she didn’t want to extend her educational career an extra semester, she chose an online course provided by ECC to achieve her goal. 

 “I figured this is my last semester and I can just take this class and I am just going to be so proud of myself at the end of all this for working so hard for everything,” Liwanag said. 

With this dedicated and fervent approach to her career, Liwanag has set herself up for success. Ultimately her decision to prioritize passion over money led her to a career that she truly loves and executes in such a manner.