Finding the Right Fit

Marco Fichtner ’17 and Amy McGlynn ’18 were able to build many relationships while at Mount Mercy, including their own.

Besides beginning a lifetime commitment to each other, Marco and Amy gained many valuable experiences that shaped who they are today.

Choosing their college ended up being easier than either Amy or Marco expected. For Marco, it was about the people.

“The main reason I chose MMU over other schools, was Coach Amir Hadzic,” said Marco. Hadzic is the men’s soccer coach for the Mustangs.

“He has a genuine interest in you as a person and becomes a coach, mentor and father figure to all of us. Amir made the whole process of joining MMU enjoyable and easy.”

For Amy, her decision revolved around the type of experience she was after.

“I was attracted to Mount Mercy because of its size,” said Amy. “I wanted a personal academic experience where class sizes were small, and you could really get to know your professors and classmates.”

Relying on their foundation

After MMU, both Marco and Amy were better prepared to find the segment of the workforce they wanted to work in. Marco started at WCI, a supply chain company in Cedar Rapids, where he traded in the U.S. as well as Germany.

“My academic experience at MMU prepared me for many of the skills required in business, such as professional writing, organizational behavior and various accounting practices,” said Fichtner.

Amy also built off of her class experiences. In her junior year, Amy narrowed her focus within psychology to identify where she wanted to go after graduation. Abnormal psychology and research statistics helped her the most in finding her path.

“They helped me to better understand the different avenues within psychology and how to critically analyze journal articles and evidence-based practices,” said Amy. “I learned a great deal from the faculty in the psychology department. They helped prepare me for life after college and are a big reason I chose to undertake more studies following my undergrad.”

Widening their horizons

In addition to growing academically, Amy and Marco were able to grow personally as well.

“MMU has opened my eyes to other cultures unlike any other experience before,” said Marco. “MMU showed me that no culture is better than the other, merely different.”

“Mount Mercy helped introduce me to my passion for helping others,” said Amy. “Through meeting people from all different walks of life and participating in volunteer work, I gained perspective on how fortunate I was. As a result, I wanted to give back and serve those around me.”

Life after MMU

The two alums say the first 2–3 months after graduation were the hardest for them. During this time, the two had to learn how to stand on their own while navigating life. The experience helped them move outside of their comfort zone and shaped who they are today.

Since leaving MMU, Amy and Marco have experienced a great deal of change. From job changes, to moving to a different continent, to preparing for a wedding, they’ve been through it all. The two recently moved to Australia and are getting ready for their wedding in October.

Marco worked at WCI for one year in the U.S, and is currently in the hiring process of a store management trainee role at ALDI. Amy is currently working as a behavior therapist at an early intervention service for children with autism age 2–6. She works with a transdisciplinary therapy team that includes a speech pathologist, occupational therapist, and a teacher. Amy is also in her final semester studying a Master of Education in Applied Behavior Analysis.

The connections they were able to make at Mount Mercy truly made it a better experience for both Marco and Amy.

“We both forged such deep and meaningful connections during our time in Iowa and can’t wait for all our friends and family to be together.”

“We both forged such deep and meaningful connections during our time in Iowa and can’t wait for all our friends and family to be together in our new home later this year for our wedding,” said Amy. “We’ve both made friends for life on top of getting to meet each other.”

The best advice they have for future students is to take internships, enjoy your time, and experience as much as possible.