What should come after high school—a college degree, a career certification, or some combination of the two?

That question opens this edition of Fridays With Larry. For students and families in Fishers and throughout Hamilton County, the answer involves more than tuition costs. It also means understanding what a credential prepares someone to do and whether employers value it.

My guest is Katie Reigelsperger, CEO and founder of KLR Medical Certification Training School. Katie’s own path gives her a personal perspective on the subject. In our conversation, she describes returning to school as a young mother, earning her diploma and a pharmacy technician certification, and eventually running her own business.

We talk about how KLR works with high schools to prepare students for healthcare careers, whether they plan to enter the workforce after graduation or continue their education.

Katie also explains why technical training is only part of that preparation. Communicating with patients, showing compassion and learning to handle difficult situations are skills students need alongside their certifications.

Our conversation includes a preview of KLR’s plans for its November 18 Skills Day at the Hamilton County Fairgrounds in Noblesville. Katie describes how hands-on activities give students a chance to explore healthcare work beyond what they can learn from a textbook.

I close the program with commentary on Malcolm Gladwell’s new book, The American Way of Killing: The Invention of an Epidemic. I look at his arguments about violence, police staffing and prevention, along with some of the criticism of his conclusions.

Fridays With Larry is sponsored by Citizens State Bank.

You can watch the video version or listen to the audio using these links or the links below.