Wichita State University
Peer Ambassadors
View your position as a returning adult as an asset and not a detriment.
About Me
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Ethan Brooks isn’t just studying Mechanical Engineering—he’s reshaping his future, one design at a time. As a new ALCC Peer Ambassador, Ethan exemplifies the power of reinvention and resilience. Before returning to college, Ethan managed an electronics repair store, where he spent his days fixing devices designed by others. But a growing desire to create and innovate led him to a bold decision: to return to school and pursue a degree in Mechanical Engineering.
Ethan’s academic goals are ambitious and inspiring. He plans to pursue a master’s degree in automation and dreams of launching his own industrial automation company. But the road back to college wasn’t without its challenges. While juggling all his reponsibilites and his committment his studies, he learned to focus on what he could control and sought opportunities beyond the classroom. That mindset led him to a position at Viega, a manufacturing company where he now designs improvements to production lines—work that directly benefits factory floor employees by reducing their workload.
What motivated you to return to WSU as an adult learner?
I was previously managing an electronics repair store and eventually decided I wanted to learn how to design new devices/machines instead of just repairing ones designed by others. This lead me to return to school to pursue my degree in Mechanical Engineering.
What are some of your goals?
My main goal is just to learn as much as possible about design, but more specifically I would like to pursue getting my master's in automation and eventually start my own industrial automation company.
Have you faced any significant challenges in your educational journey? How did you overcome them?
The most significant challenge I have faced in returning to school is maintaining my motivation level. My motivation to keep going dipped after the first year or two as I began to settle into how slow the pace of college is. I overcame this by learning to focus on the things in my control, and eventually landed a position with a manufacturing company called Viega that allowed me to improve my skills in my field outside the classroom at a more accelerated pace.
How do you contribute to your school and/or community in a meaningful way?
I feel that the most meaningful contributions I make to my community are at work. In my current role at Viega, I spend most of my time designing improvements to the production lines at our plant that are intended to reduce the workload placed on the factory floor employees.
What advice would you give to other adult learners considering returning to WSU?
My advice would be to view your position as a returning adult as an asset and not a detriment. You may feel like a fish out of water at first, but you will quickly realize that the drive you have that led you to return to school will put you ahead of most of the younger students who aren't quite as motivated. Stick with it!
How long were you away from school before you came back?
I graduated high school in 2017 and returned to college in 2022.