In this episode of Trading Up, we explore what it really means to care — not just as a profession, but as a deeply human calling. We sit down with two remarkable women whose journeys began with hardship, wound their way through personal loss and educational struggle, and converged through the healing power of nursing.

Diamonique Heyburn, a recent graduate of Sandburg’s nursing program, opens her heart about the experiences that shaped her, especially the impact of nurses who cared for her sister through illness. That compassion — quiet, steadfast, and deeply human — is what inspired her to become a nurse herself.

Tina Braun Smith, Sandburg’s Nursing Program Coordinator and one of Diamonique’s instructors, knows that while you can teach skills, you cannot teach someone to care. And that, she says, is what makes Diamonique exceptional.

Together, they share a story that defies easy labels. It’s about education, yes — but it’s also about dignity, grit, and grace. It’s about healing not only the patient, but the family. It’s about lifting the next generation even as you remember your own climb. And it’s about the kind of learning that doesn’t just land you a job — it changes your life.

This conversation is a powerful reminder that sometimes, the most important credentials we carry are not on paper, but in the heart.

You know, you can have all the technical knowledge in the world, a stellar GPA, and impressive credentials, but if you can't communicate effectively, work as part of a team, or present yourself professionally, you're missing that critical transmission that gets all that horsepower to the wheels. Today, I'm joined by Tracy Engstrom, Coordinator of Career Development at Carl Sandburg College, who has spent the last 15 years helping students bridge that gap between academic achievement and workplace success.

Tracy's story is fascinating—from growing up on a farm to working as a cosmetologist in North Dakota, to finding her true calling in career development. What I love about her approach is how she helps students see that they already have more going for them than they realize. Whether it's learning the CART method for storytelling in interviews, understanding why you shouldn't season your food before tasting it at a business dinner, or discovering that "good enough" can actually be better than perfectionism, Tracy brings a wealth of practical wisdom to every interaction.

We'll explore her Employability Skills Academy, dive into the importance of digital footprints in today's hiring landscape, and discover how farm-grown work ethic translates into professional success. Plus, Tracy shares some remarkable success stories that will remind you why this work matters so deeply. So settle in as we learn what it really takes to prepare students not just for jobs, but for careers that can transform their lives.

In this inaugural episode, host Craig Williams sits down with Madelyn Sell, a Galesburg native and Carl Sandburg College graduate who found her calling not in a boardroom, but in a machine shop.

Madelyn’s journey into the world of precision machining began not with a lifelong dream, but with a nudge from her father and an open mind. What started as a simple course in CNC at the Galesburg Area Vocational Center sparked something in her—a curiosity that became passion, and a passion that quickly turned into a career. With guidance from Sandburg’s expert faculty and the hands-on training that only a community-focused college can offer, Madelyn discovered that the trades were not only a good fit for her skills—they were a path to personal confidence, professional pride, and financial stability.

This conversation explores Madelyn’s experience as a student, her entry into the workforce, and what it means to be a young woman in a traditionally male-dominated field. She speaks candidly about the surprises she’s encountered along the way, from the joy of seeing a completed part she machined herself to the encouragement she’s received from mentors and coworkers.

But more than anything, this episode is about growth. It’s about what happens when a person finds their place in the world—not by following someone else’s plan, but by trading up for something authentic and self-made.

TradingUp is about more than career pathways; it’s about personal transformation. And as Madelyn Sell reminds us, there’s immense beauty—and real opportunity—in working with your hands, building something from nothing, and knowing that what you do matters.