Grad Spotlight: How Avary Metzger found community and passion at Ivy Tech Warsaw

“I’m ready. I’m nervous. Graduation is a huge thing because it marks the beginning of the next chapter in your life, and so I’m feeling a whole bunch of different emotions.”

You’ve probably seen Avary Metzger around Ivy Tech Warsaw. She’s heavily involved in the campus community, Beta Zeta Kappa (Warsaw’s Phi Theta Kappa [PTK] chapter), runs Ivy Tech Warsaw’s Facebook page, and was recently inducted to Ivy Tech’s All-Indiana Academic Team for 2024. You might have even been lucky enough to taste one of her desserts.

This fall, the General Studies major will be continuing her education at Purdue University Fort Wayne (PFW) to get a bachelor’s degree in business economics. While she’s got a lot figured out, starting her college career wasn’t always this straightforward.

New discoveries

“I started with computer science, actually,” Avary explains. “But things didn’t really go as planned. So, I’m a general studies student, and it’s been great for me to experiment and dip my toes into new things I never thought of.”

Like economics.

It’s pretty common for students to change their major during college. In fact, about 80% of students in college end up changing their major at least once, according to the National Center for Education Statistics.

“For people who really don’t know what they want to do, I think general studies is a great choice. You get to form your own path with different classes, and it’s a lot more flexible than if you’re majoring in something specific.”

In the beginning, Avary pictured herself working with computers. It’s a passion of hers. She will take old technology and videogames and use code to make them new. However, she thought that writing code for a living might take the enjoyment out of it.

Then she found a new passion while sitting through an honors macroeconomics class taught by Ivy Tech Fort Wayne instructor Matt Fisher.

"He blew my mind. It was amazing to see how sociology, psychology, and philosophy come together in economics. It's more than just spending money, it's the 'why' behind humans' decisions." 

She signed up for the class thinking it’d be nice to know some information about the economy. What she didn’t expect was to learn about how life is so deeply interconnected into the economy.

Avary already has the business perspective. Her family owns a small trucking business in Silver Lake, Ind., and she’s been around business-minded people. She’s excited to take what she already knows and make her own career.

Thanks to the support and experience from Student Life, she’s able to take great strides doing that.

Student life

“Don't be afraid to get involved because that is the place where you'll find your community. Whether that means you're joining a club or you're going to like student life events or you're going to community events that are happening.”

If you’ve ever met Avary, you might notice the way she’s a natural-born leader. So, it’s no surprise she served as President and Public Relations Manager for Warsaw’s PTK chapter and has taken the lead with the campus’ social media as a Student Life Associate.

“I love interacting with people, and I think being a student worker has allowed me to realize that.”

When she first started at Ivy Tech, she was a little overwhelmed trying to see where she fit in. Now, whether saying hi to someone in the halls or at an event, Avary is always excited to meet new people. She especially loves the “oasis” the Student Life Lounge provides where students can grab a coffee and chat with one another.

“Being a Student Life Associate has allowed me to grow in all different aspects from event planning to professional development. Phi Theta Kappa allowed me to truly find my community.”

Avary’s PTK origin story

At her 16^th birthday party, Avary’s friend, Keely, was dropped off by her mom, Lori Roe. Lori works as a professor of communication at Ivy Tech Warsaw and is the advisor for PTK. Lori knew that Avary planned to go to Ivy Tech and mentioned to look out for a PTK invite via email.

Two years later, she gets the email. She accepted her membership, paid her fees, and her life changed.

“Phi Theta Kappa let me work on projects and be with people from all different backgrounds that came together for one common goal. I still have that same community to this day.”

She says at her first meeting in August 2022, there was an immediate vote for officers, and Avary was put into the president position.

“I ran with it, and it was really rewarding.”

As part of the organization, Avary went to the international and statewide conferences. Last year, Catalyst, the international conference, was held in Columbus, Ohio. The team took made the trek and created many lasting memories from new songs to grabbing Boba with new friends.  

The Warsaw crew has also travelled to Indianapolis for the statewide conferences, the latest conference was held the last weekend of April 2024. They’ve taken home several awards, one of which went to Avary last year when she won the Indiana Region’s Sue Jackson Award.

“With all the PTK conferences and places I’ve been to, there are people I meet who I form good relationships with and keep in touch.”

The next chapter

While Avary might be throwing up her cap to commemorate her time with Ivy Tech, she’s beyond excited for what awaits at PFW.

“I’m excited to just be back in school and make new friendships and just have a change of pace from what life is like.”

She’ll be rooming with one of her oldest friends and a cat named Mango McNugget, which they nursed to health last summer.

Avary hopes to take a study abroad opportunity to live outside of the United States and experience a new lifestyle—the current goal is the University of Queensland in Australia. It’s an experience that might help her with her career decisions that includes the possibility to work in international banking.

It’s all part of looking beyond graduation day—using your experiences to make the world a better place. That’s what Avary is striving for. When she steps off the stage, diploma in hand, she’ll be one step closer to making it all possible.