Krystal Baucum: Finding Academic Courage

Fear can come in many forms, but what sent Krystal Baucum running for the hills was math class.

Luckily, she found the academic courage she was searching for here at Colorado Mountain College.

“CMC provided me with the perfect opportunity to take classes at my own pace,” says Krystal, a CMC Aspen student. “If you put in the hard work, CMC is there for you.”

Professors at CMC pride themselves on the personal connections they make with students. This individualized teaching fuels success by helping students focus on their unique goals.

“I knew the possibilities were endless with CMC,” Krystal says. “It was the perfect outlet.”

Originally from the small town of Talkeetna, Alaska, Krystal went to college in California and then started a career in the hospitality industry in Houston, Texas. However, she quickly realized this was not the right career path for her.

When she moved to Aspen with her husband in 2012, she easily could have landed a job in the hospitality industry but she used the move as a fresh start. Krystal was offered a full-time job at CMC and then began taking classes at night.

“It was a momentous decision,” she says of enrolling at CMC. “It was tough but I knew I wanted something different for myself.”

With help from faculty and staff, Krystal took small steps toward her goal of pursuing a career in math and science. She started with basic algebra classes and worked up to advanced calculus. In the fall, she will transfer to Colorado School of the Mines to pursue a degree in chemical & biological engineering.

“The professors at CMC are incredible,” says Krystal. “Everyone has an open-door policy and I took advantage of every office hour.”

“No words can express how thankful I am to CMC.”