Kendall-Brent-Finds-Strength-After-Loss.php

Kendall Brent Finds Strength After Loss

• Student
• 06/10/2025

Kendall Brent came to Rock Valley College, planning to go into dental hygiene.

He was inspired by a neighbor who worked in the field, and it was the first career he had ever thought seriously about. However, after taking a few classes and talking with people at RVC, Kendall found a new interest in business and accounting.

“Even though I started with dental hygiene in mind, the people I met at RVC helped me see other options,” he said. One of those people was Alex Luft, the Director of Career Services & Job Placement, whom Kendall first talked to during student welcome day. “We only talked for a little bit when I got here, but later I ended up in his office. He helped me switch my major and has had my back ever since.”

With help from Alex, Kendall got an internship in the finance department at SupplyCore in downtown Rockford. He works with budgets, journal entries, and accounting software. “I’m still learning, but I really like accounting.”

Alex shared how proud he was of Kendall’s progress. “Kendall is so incredibly earnest. When I went to visit him at his internship at SupplyCore, it was a bit like seeing a kid show off his favorite toys. He wanted me to see everything, his journal entry system to the process he used for accounts payable. When he told me that his internship made him feel as though he’d found what he was supposed to be doing in life, I had to agree.”

Kendall’s supervisor at SupplyCore, Kale, also praised his work ethic and growth. “Kendall was very new to accounting when he began his internship with us here at SupplyCore, but I was thoroughly impressed with how quickly he was able to grasp fundamental accounting terms and concepts,” Kale said. “He always asked questions when he felt uncertain and worked independently and carefully. Kendall has been a huge help for me personally throughout the course of his internship. He’s enthusiastic to learn and eager to take on new responsibilities, which makes him very easy to work with. I truly hope his experiences take him far in his career path.”

Outside of class, Kendall is part of the RVC’s Black Male Completion Initiative (BMCI), a group that supports African American male students. “BMCI keeps me motivated. It helps knowing people are checking in on me and making sure I’m staying focused,” he said.

Kendall’s road hasn’t been easy. While finishing a health sciences degree at another college, his mom passed away. “That was one of the hardest things I’ve ever gone through,” he said. “It made it tough to keep going with dental hygiene. I think changing majors helped me start over and get back on track.”

Even with all the challenges, Kendall stayed focused. “I think about my mom every day, and I know she’d want me to finish,” he said. With support from Alex and others at RVC, Kendall has grown a lot not just in college, but in life.

Now, Kendall plans to transfer to Rockford University or Northern Illinois University to finish his degree in accounting. He hopes to keep working in finance and find a job that’s steady and meaningful.

His advice for new students is “Take control of your journey. Ask for help. Use the resources. You don’t have to do everything by yourself. The people at RVC really care.”