4 THE UNIVERSITY DAILY KANSAN WWW.KANSAN.COM | NEWS | MONDAY, JULY 2, 2007
PROFILE
Student perseveres, finds inspiration
By Ben Smith bsmith@kansan.com
On Saturday, Kimberly Duensing drove through the rainy streets of Lawrence, hauling her camera equipment about town to meet models and build her photographic portfolio.
Duensing is a graduate student from Blue Rapids who is starting her own photography business, Photography by Kimberly, to help supplement her income as she prepares for her career as a teacher.
"Photography has been a passion of mine," Duensing said. "And teaching, though it's my dream, won't pay all the bills."
During her freshman year of college four years ago, Duensing's boyfriend beat and raped her.
Retrospectively, Duensing said that there were two reasons she stayed with her abusive boyfriend for 3 and-a-half years.
"I was scared that if I left hed come and hurt me more, and I was scared of
being alone," Duensing said. "Because it wasn't always him hitting me 24/7. He had his moments when he could be the most sensitive, caring and loving individual."
Duensing said it was her newfound friends at Margaret Amini Scholarship Hall who talked to her about getting away from her boyfriend.
"Some of them wanted me to press charges and go after him because of the rape," Duensing said. "But I felt I just couldn't do that without telling my parents."
Duensing said that living in Margaret Amini was probably what saved her from falling into a depression and helped her get past the initial trauma.
"It took those girls and a few other friends that I met in class at KU to help me realize that I couldn't do it alone, and that it was okay to lean on friends," Duensing said.
Laney Allbritten, University graduate, is one of Duensing's friends who knew her during her troubled relationship. She described Duensing as "the rare type of friend that will bend over backwards to help you out if she can."
Allbritten described Duensing as one of the most perseverant people she knew.
"Something I've always particularly admired about Kim is that even if things weren't going smoothly, she always put her academics first," Allbrritten said. "She never hesitated to take on an extremely busy class load and many extracurricular activities. What's more, she managed to do them all exceptionally well; giving everything she was involved in her best."
"Despite any troubles in her personal life, Kim has always managed to excel academically and within her work." Allbriten said. "When some might have just curled up in a ball in bed, Kim has always somehow found the motivation to continue to focus on what was most important to her: family, friends, and journey to becoming a teacher."
Jon Goerina/KANSAN
Duensing said that her friendships, as well as her relationships with her family, her instructors at the University, and now with God all helped her overcome the bad experience of her past and move on towards achieving her goals of graduating from college and becoming a teacher.
Kimberly Duensing, Blue Rapids graduate student, started a photography business to help supplement her income as she prepares to career as a teacher.
up to God is when it started getting a little bit easier. Even today, when I have a problem, big or small, I know that I can give it up to Him and everything will be okay."
"I finally had friends of my own and I learned the value of friendship and support when I came to KU. And of course, God made the biggest difference. I had always been a believer and I always attended church every Sunday, but when I finally gave my problems
Edited by Joe Caponio