An extension agent discovers that sometimes the best opportunities come after life's detours
For some people, the path to graduate school is straightforward. For Casey Ling, it was a journey marked by detours, roadblocks and perfectly timed opportunities: a testament to persistence and finding the right program at the right moment.
As the 4-H youth development agent for Wyandotte County, Ling knows a thing or two about adaptability. Her journey back to school required plenty of it.
"Getting a master's degree has been a goal of mine since I was in high school," she said. "But after I got my bachelor's, life kept happening. Roadblock after roadblock."
As an extension agent living in Wyandotte County, Ling found herself close to the Kansas State University Olathe campus. She needed a program that would align with her animal science background while supporting her work in the community. The Master of Science of Applied Biosciences with an animal health track checked every box.
A Program Built for Choice
What drew Ling to the program was the flexibility to shape her own educational journey. Unlike more rigid graduate programs, the animal health track allowed her to focus on what mattered most to her career and interests.
"I have a little more control over the classes that I take," she said. "I can choose classes that are more geared toward livestock or more geared toward equine, which is my interest."
Another major advantage? The program's built-in efficiency. Ling could earn three graduate certificates while completing her master's degree — no additional classes required. For someone balancing a demanding career with graduate studies, that made all the difference.
Flexibility for the Unpredictable
Being an extension agent means no two days are alike. Ling's schedule is constantly shifting, making traditional on-campus programs challenging to navigate.
"My job is never the same from one day to the next," she said. "My schedule is crazy all over the place, so it's really hard to nail down, 'Yes, I can commit to this time, this day for 12 or 13 weeks in a row.'"
The online and asynchronous options available in the program proved to be a game changer. They gave Ling the flexibility to engage with coursework on her own timeline, fitting education around her professional responsibilities rather than the other way around.
A Community That Cares
Beyond the programmatic benefits, what has stood out most to Ling is the level of support she's received from faculty, staff and advisors.
"Whenever I reach out to someone, whether it's Steven, the student success coach, or any of the professors here, they're so nice and so accommodating," she said.
That responsiveness and genuine care have made all the difference in Ling's graduate school experience. In a world where students can sometimes feel like just another number, she's found something different at K-State Olathe.
"They're just always happy to answer and always happy to help," she said. "I feel like I'm wanted here."
When Everything Aligns
For anyone wondering if graduate school is possible when life feels complicated, Ling's story offers hope. Sometimes achieving a long-held goal isn't about forcing your way through obstacles. It's about finding the right moment and the right fit.
For Ling, that moment arrived when her work, her location and a perfectly aligned program converged at K-State Olathe. Her journey proves that roadblocks don't mean dead ends. Sometimes they just mean you're on your way to something better.