Shannon Ihrke is no stranger to what it takes to survive during a recession. A full-time college student with two part-time jobs to make ends meet, she quickly realised that her debt would become unpayable in the long run given the economic climate, so she needed another option. This led her straight to the U.S Marine Corps, which raised a lot of eyebrows at the time. Most people didn’t even think she would get through boot camp, let alone start climbing the ranks and eventually be promoted to sergeant. When she eventually left the Marines, Shannon turned to something that nobody could have imagined she would do. A revelation about her own dreams would lead to her changing the direction of her life completely.
Minnesota Girl
Shannon was raised in a town called Walker, which is located in the North of Central Minnesota. Surrounded by nature during her childhood, she was exposed to many physical activities and sports, including fishing, hunting, boating and horseback riding. This was unique for someone of her age, as well as because at the time girls were expected to play with dolls inside all day. All the skills she learned in childhood would eventually help to build the foundation for her to join the Marine Corps, although at the time her family could not have understood where these skills might take her as she entered adulthood.
Minnesota Girl
A Busy Student Life
With such a modest upbringing, Shannon was looking for a different kind of experience once she left high school. Enrolling at St. Cloud University, her academic interests now spanned into the marketing arena, so she pursued a degree in the field. As with most students, cash flow was a problem, and in a bid to make ends meet she ended up taking on two part-time jobs to support herself. These jobs barely earned her enough to pay her bills but helped her to learn discipline and be more resilient in a difficult time. These skills would come in very hand in her future.
A Busy Student Life
