Monday, October 24, 2011

Don't Quit by Tammy VanVleck

Even though my journey has taken me a different path, I would like to give a shout out to all my friends in the Nursing Program (and all nursing students). As a former Nursing student I understand that one of the most challenging programs at CCC is the Nursing Program but it is rewarding for those who make it to the end. I would just like to encourage you to hang in there to the end. IT WILL BE WORTH IT WHEN YOU FINALLY ACCOMPLISH YOUR GOALS!!!

Think of it this way, you are half-way through the semester and some of you are almost ¾’s of the way to becoming angels. 

I wish you all the best of luck and leave you with this poem:
“The Don’t Quit Poem” ~ Author Unknown
“When things go wrong as they sometimes will,
When the road you’re trudging seems all uphill,
When the funds are low and the debts are high,
And you want to smile but have to sigh,
When care is pressing you down a bit,
Rest, if you must but don’t you quit.

Life is queer with its twists and turns,
As every one of us sometimes learns,
And many a failure turns about,
When he might have won had he stuck it out;
Don’t give up though the pace seems slow—
You may succeed with another blow.

Often the goal is nearer than,
It seems to a faint and faltering man,
Often the struggler has given up,
When he might have captured the victor’s cup,
And he learned too late when the night slipped down,
How close he was to the golden crown.

Success is failure turned inside out—
The silver lining in the clouds of doubt,
And you can never tell how close you are,
So stick to the fight when hardest hit—
It’s when things are worst you MUST NOT QUIT.”

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

Where has the time gone?


Thank you to everyone who responded to my first ever blog. I hope it was helpful and informative. I enjoy your responses and interaction.

This week I’d like to focus on something none of us, whether we are older students, younger students or somewhere in between, don’t have enough of. We are already into the middle of the semester and it seems like we just started. Soon it will be time to register for the spring semester. Let’s not go there yet though.

Here are some tips on managing your time that have worked for me: organize, organize, organize. If you can organize your time then you can maximize what you can or need to accomplish. The best school tool I found I have is the daily planner that was available at the beginning of the semester [if you didn’t get yours, go to the Commons, Student Life, show your school ID and get one!]. This was one of the first things I looked for when returning from summer break. With this I can write out my schedule of classes, work, and homework that needs to be completed. I can see the days off that are coming up, college events are written in, and I have all the information I need to be organized. If I can see my schedule in front of me I can figure out where to fit in time for extra studying, projects that need to be done, work, and time for my family. All of these are important to our success.

Something else that has helped me manage my time is using campus resources such as the library, learning centers, and computer labs. I found if I can accomplish some or most of my work on campus then I can maximize my time at home with my family. It’s hard when trying to focus on too many things at once, which being a full-time student sometimes almost feels like a requirement. However, if you can divide your time wisely it will lead to less stress and a more enjoyable experience at home and at school. If you are able to spend time on campus to do your work, use places like the library or the new learning center. I don’t recommend the Commons for studying, but it is a great place to relax and give your brain a rest – which brings me to my next point.

It is important to schedule yourself some down time. It is hard to do when you have projects due or major exams to study for, but your brain needs a break. I’ve found I shut down after studying for too long and it’s not effective studying anyway. Allow yourself some time for things you enjoy, and then come back to studying or the project you are working on. Be sure to set a time limit, it will help avoid procrastination. One last suggestion is squeeze in a little study time in places you wouldn’t think of: when you are cooking supper and have to wait a few minutes for the food to cook, pull out your study sheet and look it over while you’re waiting. If you are waiting to go to class you can do the same. Every time you do this you are exposing your mind to the material you need to learn and you feel more prepared.

I hope these tips on time management are helpful. If you have any other suggestions please share them with our fellow students. Time is something we can’t ever get back. Making the most of what we have is so important to our success and to enjoying a little less stress in our lives to help to accomplish all that we need to accomplish.

Tammy

Wednesday, September 28, 2011

32-Day Commitment

I can do it. I’ll lose weight this semester. I won’t fall off the wagon again. I am strong willed. I can do this. I’m not really sure if this positive affirmation stuff is really doing any good, but it can’t hurt, right? I’m taking human biology this semester, and one of the projects we’re doing is a “32-day commitment”. For 32 days I have to change a bad habit of mine, or gain a new positive one. My first thought was to try, one more time, something that’s already failed once; “being vegetarian” for 3 days of the week has had a positive effect on me before, when I stick to it. Not only did I lose weight, but I also had elevated moods, more energy, less stomach pain, and an over-all healthier me. I feel like this is a good start, but as I’ve learned in Psychology class, activities that are intrinsically motivating are far more likely to be done. Lucky for me, there are going to be Zumba classes on campus this semester! If you don’t know what Zumba is, I highly recommend you look into it! It’s a Latin-inspired dance that also incorporates hip-hop, salsa, mambo, martial arts, and some belly dance moves. It’s going to be offered twice a week, in the bottom of the brand new fitness center, at 6:45 in the morning. Voila! My new positive habit! I will drag myself out of bed at five a.m. twice a week to come to campus and dance my butt off… literally! Wish me luck, people!

Thoughts from a Non-Traditional Student


Being a non-traditional student, and by that I mean an older student, going back to school after being out for over twenty years, was a bit overwhelming. Even though I was excited for my new adventure, there were a lot of decisions that needed to be made and questions to answer. For instance, “What would I go to school for?”,“Where will I get the money to go to school?”“Am I too old to go to school?”“Will I fit in with the other students?”  The answers I found for myself were: 1) CCC has a program for almost every interest and what you thought you wanted to do may change. 2) There are financial aid programs to assist with the financial aspects of schooling. 3) No, I’m not too old, and, 4) There is so much diversity at the college it’s hard not to find somewhere to fit in. If I can go back to school and be successful, anyone can.

CCC offers so many opportunities and provides so many resources to be successful, even if you need to change your original plan. The options are endless so failure doesn’t have to be one of them. I’ve discovered college isn’t high-school, the learning centers are for everyone, and because it is a smaller college the CCC instructors are very approachable and willing to help you succeed. As an older student I find I am more focused and ready to make the money I’m spending for my education work for me. Going to school when you’re older does have its advantages.

Throughout the semester I would like to offer tips and suggestions to help make your semester a successful one at CCC, and to help those who are deciding if college is right for them, to possibly see returning to college at CCC is the opportunity they have been waiting for.

Welcome all students, particularly “non-traditional” (older) students. Best of luck in your studies this semester.
Tammy VanVleck    tvanvlec@corning-cc.edu

Thoughts from DISNEY WORLD!


I’ve been postponing my blog because I’ve been overwhelmed with awesomeness. I’ve checked in, I’ve completed my training, I’ve started my job, I’ve gotten home-sick, I’ve had family visit and I’ve adjusted to living in Florida (for the most part.) Life is good.

I am working in Magic Kingdom at Tomorrowland. More specifically I‘m working at Buzz Space Ranger Spin, The Laugh Floor, and Carousel of Progress. The Laugh Floor is by far my favorite attraction at the Magic Kingdom so needless to say, I’ve been thrilled to work there!

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/buzz-lightyears-space-ranger-spin/
http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/parks/magic-kingdom/attractions/monsters-inc-laugh-floor/

I realized today that I’m only here for about 3 more months. There’s so much I have left to do. I haven’t even gone to the Disney Water Parks or Universal yet! I still need to take a day to explore Downtown Orlando! And let’s not forget a beach trip! My all time favorite band is going to be down here in November so I bought 3rd row tickets! And more of my family will be visiting in December!

A lot of exciting things are happening down here and I’m loving my experience. I think I’m pretty decided that I want to come back home after my program. I’m loving this program, but small-town life is definitely something I enjoy more. And I miss my family! I applied to Keuka's ASAP program for Organizational Management. I think I would love to work at a college campus in an Admissions or Student Life office! But, I'm so indecisive, we'll see if I change my mind before I come home.

I hope all is well back at home! I hope no one was harmed or suffered too harshly from the flooding that I had heard about. Enjoy every minute of your beautiful trees changing colors! And please, please... carve a pumpkin for me. I'm not entirely sure I can do that down here...

Kate Schiller

Monday, September 12, 2011

Sweat the Small Stuff

Most of you have probably noticed a tab on MyCCC about Dignity & Respect. This is a new campaign that we’re (the admissions office team) trying this semester; every week this semester there will be a different promotion, quote, idea, etc. For example, last week’s promotion was “sweat the small stuff”. This could be anything from smiling at a peer as you pass them on campus, to holding open a door, or maybe it’s asking a friend how their day is. The purpose of this campaign is to promote a friendlier campus, and make EVERYONE feel respected. You never know how it will impact someone else, and don’t you want to be respected too? “The 30 tips of Dignity & Respect challenges us to be mindful of others and to commit to treating them the way they want to be treated. By following these daily recommendations we can all work to achieve a more inclusive community.” If you’d like to get involved you can take the pledge at www.DignityandRespect.org, or text RESPECT to 94253!

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Any Last Words?


Any last words?

It’s my last shift here at Office of Admissions at Corning Community College. I’m trying to have an epic subject to blog about... perhaps it’s still too early. Is 9:16 AM too early? My morning is all discombobulated (sp?) though. My alarm didn’t go off on my phone AGAIN. 

Why does it hate me so? I’ll need to bring an alarm clock with me down to Disney. Could you imagine if that happened to me down there? I’d probably get terminated. I should be prepared...

Oh! Good transition to my next subject. 

I want to share some tips and tricks I’ve picked up along the way to prepare new coming, current or transfers from CCC. I figured it might be a good farewell blog.

How to succeed at CCC and beyond...

  • Pay attention in your FYEX (First Year Experience) class.  I know a lot of it seems like common sense, but this class is created to not only teach you about things to help you succeed in college, but life in general. How you treat that class is how you’ll treat any class that you may feel you don’t want or need to take.
  • Learn how to use the CCC online Library early! A lot of instructors require you to use this resource instead of others. They will teach you in classes like your Comp 1 or FYEX so pay attention during those sessions. Not only is it helpful with CCC classes but I used it after I transferred to a 4-year. I had the option of using the new schools but I still had access to CCC’s online library, why learn a whole new system when the old one worked just fine?
  • Ask your advisor to SHOW YOU how to schedule classes. I’ve helped so many friends schedule their courses because they never learned how. You don’t have to meet with your advisor every semester! You can do it from home. I think you can register early and get entered to win a gas card... but I never won. So, I would meet with an advisor but I always ended up switching my schedule around.
  • When having to do group projects, don’t automatically group with your friends. Group with the people who contribute to class discussion. Well, contribute productively. They’re the ones interested in the class; they’re the ones who will be driven enough to help get you an A. Especially when you all receive the same grade. I HATE these types of projects; I’d rather work alone for my own grade. But, unfortunately some instructors think it helps your social skills.
  • Don’t take your laptop to class if it’s a subject that bores you. Trust me. You will spend the entire time on the internet doing everything EXCEPT taking notes. And while this may seem appealing to you, don’t be surprised when you end up with a grade that drops your GPA.
  • Don’t be the class clown. We aren’t in high school anymore. A lot of people would rather let the instructor get through their agenda for the day than listen to you do your stand-up comedy. While I’m not saying you can’t have fun in class... respect others time.
  • Same subject... don’t be a know-it-all. If a subject interests me and I’ve had the opportunity to study it outside of a class... I feel like I should share my knowledge with others. I learned very quickly that people don’t care what I have to say unless we’re required to speak for a discussion. Make an appointment with your instructor to talk about the subject more in-depth outside of your other classmates’ time.
  • Go to campus events! Most of the time there is free food, fun activities and great people to meet! My favorite is SpringFest!
  • Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are countless amounts of resources available on campus, not to mention your instructors are your best resource. Classmates can be great too! They know what you’re going through.
  • Public safety can break into your car and jump your battery. Yea, if you’re like me you’ll need to know that...
  • Take a class with Benny! Harold Hunziker (more popularly known as Benny) is one of the more well-known instructors on campus. I honestly don’t think I’ve heard a bad word spoken against him. He teaches Psychology courses, a subject I was never interested in until I took his Social Psych course! Almost all of you will need a Psych101 class, so I would encourage you to get a class with him.
I think that’s all I’ll leave with you. I’ll try to write at least one blog to update everyone on how I’m doing down in Disney. :) 

--Kate

Self-Doubt Ain’t Got Nothin’ On Me


As I’m approaching my departure date, I’m becoming more nervous and feeling more unprepared than ever.  I’m getting constant reminders from numerous people that soon… I’ll no longer be home. I get asked every day, “When are you leaving?!” I hate the reminders! I’ve been trying not to think so much of leaving but more about arriving.
But that’s been freaking me out just as much, if not more…
DETAILS! I forgot about all the details I need to worry about when moving away from home. This weekend will be dedicated to packing my car full of all the things I want to take. If it doesn’t fit, I can’t take it! That’s a horrible thought.
What’s making me even more sad is that I’ve been  packing the stuff I don’t want to take and putting it in the basement so my family has an extra room to use… for whatever. I wasn’t asked to do this; my mom was kind of offended and hurt when I told her what I was doing. Poor mommy.
 I figured it’d be nice, since when (and if) I come back, I plan to move out. My stuff will be all packed up so it’s one less thing I have to worry about. Wait…
 MOVE OUT??? Temporarily was fine, but now I want to leave home permanently???
Sounded like a good idea at the time… Welcome to life, Kate.
I’m not new to these feelings of panic though. I’m reminded of when I first started college and basically any class that I’ve taken that I thought was too difficult for me. A feeling of urgency and self-doubt. It’s the feeling of… being a college student. Which, I’m beginning to find, doesn’t stop with being a college student. I guess I’m realizing it’s going to follow me throughout the rest of my life.
I sound like such a downer, but that’s not my goal here. My goal is to encourage you to push through this feeling. I also want you to recognize that you’re not the only one experiencing this stomach turning bundle of emotions.
If only we could have a Pepto-Bismol cure. *sings and dances* Nausea, heartburn, indigestion, college students, diarrhea! (Yay for a new jingle for CCC!) If you’re unfamiliar with that jingle, I’m sorry that you live under a rock. Here’s a reference. :D
Did I really just side-track to that? Yes. I. did.
My point is, when in this situation of experiencing “college student symptoms” I try to remember the results I’ve encountered when pushing through.
My favorite was when I waited until my last semester (for my first degree) to take my lab science. After completely failing (by my own standards) the first half of the semester, I pushed through. I knew I could do better. I studied harder, got help from the instructor and dedicated myself to that class. I ended up getting a 99/100 on the final!
Is there a time that you felt like you didn’t have the will-power to do something, but ended up exceeding your own expectations?
Kate

Is It Tea Time Yet?

So, 27 days before I leave and I still have so much to do. I decided not to book a hotel. I’m going to wait. My brother wants to drive a ton the first day, but I want to drive a ton the second day. Oh, siblings… I’m not going to worry about it though because either way, we’ll get down there somehow. I can’t wait to meet all of the amazing people I’ve been talking to who are either down there already or will be. And I’ve been becoming more anxious to find out what attraction I’ll be working.

http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/attractions/

If you visit the link, you can get a little idea of where I *might* be working. There are so many attractions! I have no idea what one I’ll be placed it. It’s exciting but nerve-wracking at the same time. I’ve been taking the time to post things that I’m excited about through Disney on my own personal Facebook account. And while I’m excited to experience all the things I loved when I was on vacation at Disney World, I’m more excited to do things like this…
  
I wasn’t able to go on the Tea Cups the first and only time I have been to Disney World. And as silly as it sounds, I’m most excited to go on them above anything else! Why? Advertisement. When I was a child, I remember seeing commercials for Disney World. All I remember was the Tea Cups. I remember thinking, “I can’t wait to go on those!”

You see, my grandparents were Disneyaholics (if there is such things, they were it!) And they would always vacation at Disney. I have 4 siblings (3 older brothers and 1 little sister) My grandparents took my oldest brother to Disney when he was a kid and promised to take the rest of us as well. They managed to take my brothers but kind of forgot my sister and I! I don’t mind as much now because my grandparents sent us with my mom a couple years ago. I was 20 years old but I was able to appreciate everything around me.

Except the Tea Cups. I don’t even remember seeing them. There was so much happening, and my mom and my sister weren’t interested in going on them… so I missed my opportunity. Well, I’m determined that the first ride I will experience will be the Tea Cups!

Do you have a favorite attraction? Or what one do you look forward to the most?

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

My Informative Speech Topic Choice

This summer I’ve opted to take a few classes to lighten my load, in the semesters to come. I am currently taking Public Speaking, and it has proven to be a very interesting class. Not only am I honing in on my communication skills, but I’ve also been given the opportunity to further explore unique topics as speech material. This week I’ve been given the assignment of choosing an informative speech topic and I’ve narrowed my options to something that I’ve previously learned about in my psych classes here at Corning. My first instinct was to choose my three favorite sub-categories of psychology and define, explain, and illuminate all of their valuable contributions; after giving it some thought, I’ve come to the realization that may be a little dry, and although it’s an exciting topic to me, it just may put my audience to sleep. So I thought about it, I brainstormed, I discussed it over breakfast, and I finally came up with a worthwhile topic. Britney Spears: A Psychological Assessment!  Psychoanalysis and behaviorist theories that aim to explain her transition from a Disney star to a full-fledged whack-job! Who doesn’t wonder, from time to time, how on earth someone who was once a role-model for children has taken such a sharp turn towards drugs, alcohol and racy tabloid articles. Stay tuned while I use knowledge and resources from both my General Psych and Adolescent Psychology class to illuminate the craziness that lies within Britney Spears!

Monday, July 25, 2011

20 Days

I decided to make a list of things I’m going to miss and will not miss while I’m down in Florida. I haven’t thought this through, just typing as I go. So, don’t expect it to be alphabetized. And a reminder, I’ll be down there from August 15th to (at least) January 6th.

I Will Not Miss:
• SNOW – As beautiful as it can be, I’m not going to miss it.
• CLASSES – I’m definitely someone who enjoys school and even though it’s an option, while I’m down there, I decided not to take any classes.
• LIVING @ MOM’S – Don’t get me wrong, I’ll probably end up missing aspects of it, but overall, I’m excited to get out on my own. When (and IF) I come home, I plan on getting my own apartment.
• WOOD STOVES – I love the smell of ours, but the process of getting the wood in the house is not my idea of fun. I don’t know, maybe I’m crazy for not missing that.
• PINE TREES – I’ve never liked them… Hello, palm trees!
• FAMILY DRAMA – Not that I’ll go into specifics but I’m sure some of you can relate to this. :P

I Will Miss:
• FAMILY & FRIENDS– Of course, I would hope this would be on anyone’s list. But more specifically, my niece and nephew. They’re so young and my favorite little people to see EVER! I hope they don’t forget who I am!
• HOLIDAYS – While holiday seasons at Disney should be super awesome, I’m going to miss a lot of family traditions. (Not to mention, gifts!)
• FALL – I love Fall. I love watching the trees change colors, going apple picking, frosts in the morning, visiting haunted houses, among other things. It’s my favorite season!
• HILLS – It’s so flat in FL!
• MY HOME CHURCH – I hope to find a church down in FL that I feel comfortable in, but I’m going to miss where I grew up!
• CCC ADMISSIONS – I’m going to miss working as a Student Ambassador here. And overall just miss this campus!

I’m sure there are plenty of other things I could think of, but I don’t want to get too emotional at work! I’m excited about leaving, but I will miss a lot of things.

As I count down my days until I leave… work days are getting longer, weeks are dragging out and the times I want to last forever (weekends) zoom right by! I’m beginning to realize all the things I’m going to miss even though I’m excited about all the new things I’ll experience. Patsy (my boss in Admissions) has asked me to write at least one blog to update everyone once I’m down there. I hope to do more than just one but we’ll see how it works out! *Like* this blog if you’d look forward to reading more about my experience down in Disney! If there are a significant amount of people reading these posts, I’ll do my best to schedule time to update you all. : )

Monday, June 27, 2011

What to Consider Before Taking a Compressed Class by Kate Schiller

I just finished my Summer Astronomy course this past week. While I really enjoyed the content of the class, I regret taking such an interesting subject in a compressed package! If you haven’t read my past blogs, it was a four week course, Mon – Thur, 8:30 AM – 1:20 PM. Four weeks of a lab science isn’t enough time to process a subject you’re extremely interested in.



How many times do you think to yourself, “If I could do all over again, I would”? I don’t think I’ve ever thought way about a college course! But that’s where I am right now. I managed to get a C in the class, which is the lowest grade I’ve ever received. I’m not blaming the compressed course, it was my own fault. But I do wish I could take it over during a regular semester. I would definitely take another Astronomy course! The instructor was great, the class was fun… it was just a lot to take in during a short amount of time.


Instead of complaining about my C, I’ve decided to celebrate that I made it through the course with a passing grade! The course was difficult but fun. I come across a lot of those here at CCC. But, the time frame really hurt me. Before you register for a compressed course, ask yourself, “Am I really interested in this subject? Should I wait until I can take it a full semester?” Not to say it’s not possible to get an A in these types of courses, you just have to have something I lacked… time management skills. :(




Kate






Thursday, June 9, 2011

Record High Heat Creates Insane Excitement!!!


Yesterday (June 8th) our area experienced a record high temperature! While I expect most people were lounging in front of a fan, or if you’re lucky enough, an AC, I was busy on campus in my Summer Astronomy class. My Astronomy class runs Mon. – Thur., 8:30AM to 1:20PM for four weeks.


As I sat in my non-air-conditioned classroom, I didn’t feel uncomfortably hot. We were even conducting a lab that required to turn on extremely hot lights for a couple of hours. Surprisingly enough, I felt comfortable, and for the most part, cool. As my day continued, I got into my non-air-conditioned car and drove home. Again, the heat barely bothered me. I arrived at home and eventually I turned my AC off in my house because I was too cold!


Now, I don’t expect you to think this is a very interesting story from what I’ve just said. But, the heat yesterday (that’s also continuing today) has caused me so much excitement! Extreme heat typically wouldn’t spark so much excitement in the average person. However, if you have been reading my blogs from the past I stated that I’m moving to Disney World in FLORIDA!


While upper 90’s are a record high for us this time of year, I assume it’s an average day in FL. The way I was handling the heat surprised me. Usually I’m a soggy ball of complaining sweat when it gets this hot. But, no, not this Summer. I’m embracing our record high heat wave and looking ahead to my new chapter at the Disney College Program in FL.


Maybe I won’t get my AC in my car fixed until I leave for Disney. It’ll help me get use to the heat… good idea?


Thanks for reading my babble,


--Kate

Friday, May 20, 2011

Top 10 Reasons I Love CCC by Tara Bowman

10. Free Stuff!

The activities fee I pay every semester covers a lot of really cool stuff. Free concerts, free food, free t-shirts, games, giveaways, prizes, festivities, entertainment, comedians, merriment all around, hoopla, oh and cake! Since I live off campus, all this jubilation is an awesome way to still feel like you’re part of a community.


9. Waffle fries…


I swear they put crack in those things. The waffle fries in the dining hall are amazing. Since we have a professional catering service that makes all the food for CCC, all the food is really, really good.


8. The Chemung River


Campus is so close to the Chemung River that I can kayak back to Elmira when I have classes on the main campus. There’s nothing more relaxing then going to the river after a stressful day, sitting back, dipping your feet in the water, and just effortlessly floating some 15 miles or so home.


7. Market Street


Market Street is beautiful! I love all the little shops, and great places to eat. There’s a really cute place to eat called the Old World Café that has the best ice cream ever. You can find anything from music, animals, food, art, beauty salons, to cafés and hand crafted trinkets, and gadgets; an excellent place to kill time, and wander aimlessly :)


6. The Math Learning Center


I was in the MLC every week, at least 3 days a week, this entire semester. I probably would have lost my mind, and/or flunked out of Calculus had it not been for the amazing peer and professional tutors there.


5. The professors


My professors here at CCC are amazing! They’re all super nice. My Tae Kwon Do instructor made me laugh until I cried on a pretty regular basis. [By the way, I highly recommend that class!] They’re also very flexible, and understanding. If you make the effort maintain communication with them, and let them know what your needs are, they’re very accommodating.


4. The Class Size


All of my classes this semester were 15-20 students or less. This made me feel a little more comfortable with participating in class, and communicating with my professors. They all know me by name, and I don’t feel anonymous, like I would sitting in a large lecture hall trying to absorb information like a sponge.


3. Class Selection


There are a lot of really cool class selections here on campus. CCC is the best place to start, especially if you don’t know exactly what you want to do; because of the large variety of classes, programs, and electives you can take, it’s an excellent place to get a feel for what sparks your passion. I started out as a math/science major, but my guidance counselor helped me put a little bit of everything in my schedule so I could test the waters a little bit, and I soon found out my passion is psychology.


2. Diversity


There are so many different, wonderful people here, there really isn’t such thing as the typical CCC student. I took a year off to just work, and then came back to school, for the second time and felt right at home at CCC.


And the number one reason I love Corning Community College… [Drum roll please!]


1. The Sense of Community


The strong sense of community here at CCC is the number one reason why I love it here. Ask any student, and they’ll tell you the reasons they love it too. There’s a lot of pride in our school, and support for everyone who’s apprehensive about attending college. My family is about to move to the west coast, and I’m very fortunate to still have my family away from home here at CCC.

Thursday, May 19, 2011

Tips for summer by Sean Keenan

Sean writing his blogs
  • Relax
  • Take a break
  • Visit Corning Community College
  • Take a Summer Course
  • Buy discount golf passes

Friday, May 13, 2011

Out with the Old by Nick Bonomo


Nick hard at work at the front desk of the Admissions Office
At the end of each year at a college, one can see many people leaving and plans changing, chapters ending and beginning. This is the same for any student ambassador that plans on leaving to attend a transfer school, as I am. I am so grateful to have been a part of this wonderful program, to be paid to do what I truly wish would have been done for me. I was glad to help out the prospective students that were still undecided on what their temporary plans were. I am glad I got to know some great mentors and people along the way. I am glad I can always remember my work and experiences that taught me so much about working in an office setting.

On my way out of the door, I’d like to leave behind some meaningful advice for others: register early, take classes that interest you, stay involved, and always give it your all. College isn’t just about “getting the degree” or “partying all day and night.” A degree allows you to move more quickly into adult life, that’s all. To truly be prepared for this life, you must learn to try your hardest in every class you take, whether it counts toward your degree or not. College is a chance to learn who you are and how you fit into the world. Corning Community College especially taught me these things. However, it is still more than classes and work ethic. It’s a chance to make mistakes and changes to yourself and your plan. It’s a chance to have some fun and to help others. College is, in a sense, a concentrated version of real life. You can choose to use this opportunity to learn to fit into the real world, and I sincerely hope that you do.


Good luck, and register asap!

Friday, May 6, 2011

Yay, it’s SPRING! By Kate Schiller


Are you all ready for SPRINGfest?! For those of you who are new to CCC this semester, SPRINGfest is a week filled of free food, free activities, free give-a-ways and free entertainment! I think it should just be called FREEfest but since the weather is finally acting right, I think we’ll keep the original name.


I look forward to it every year. I’m talking like I’ve been here for 20 years. I’m actually trying to clear my schedule a bit (from work, not classes!) so I can make it to more events this time around. So here’s a quick overview as to what to expect next week. For more details about events head to your MyCCC account and click the “Student” tab then scroll down to “Student Events.” You can click on each one for more details.

  • Monday, May 9 @ noon
    • FREE T-Shirts and entertainment with the HUMAN KNOT (free soft serve pretzels and drinks will be served)
    • Tuesday, May 10 @ noon
      • FREE Ice Cream and the Prize Wheel
    • Wednesday, May 11 @ noon
      • FREE Lunch and entertainment with A PAIR OF NUTS
Did you read my blog about finals coming up? Well, they’re here! If you didn’t know, CCC offers free coffee or tea in the commons building during finals week. I think it’s great that they offer this to students, but what about the ones who don’t drink coffee or tea? I think I need to request hot cocoa. Anyone else a cocoa drinker?


Good luck on your finals and if you aren’t taking summer courses, have a great vacation!

Wednesday, May 4, 2011

Thoughts on Completing My Senior Year at CCC by Abby Donegan

Hey! My name is Abby and I am attending CCC for my senior year of high school. Being here at CCC as one of few high school students has been an interesting experience. It is definitely a change from walking the halls of East High school.

I decided to come to CCC for my last year of high school honestly because I was annoyed with the minimal amount of freedom given to students in high school. I didn’t want to have to have a pass to go to my locker, or have to sign out to go home for a few minutes. I enjoyed high school and still have many friends who attend high school; I was just ready for change. There were times when I regretted coming to CCC and not having a traditional “senior year”; I missed seeing my friends every day and I felt kind of left out.

When I first came to CCC, I assumed it would be easy. I had thoughts like every other high school student that attending a “community college” was basically a walk in the park. I was wrong. I had to work really hard in many of my classes to get the grades I was satisfied with. I struggled in my math class, which I even took at the high school level the year before. It was much different, but every class experience made me more prepared for college in the future. The teachers were very helpful and unlike at big colleges, they knew you by name, not just a seat in a classroom. The attention from the teachers was very comforting and I did not have a difficult time with any of my teachers. I am currently taking one class at East High ninth period that is only for the second half of the year. I originally signed up for the class to boost my average so I could get a scholarship for a college that I am no longer planning to attend; however, I am happy that I am still taking it because it gives me a chance to see my friends from school that I don’t see as often.
Now that the end of the year is approaching, I look forward to many things that most seniors look forward to. I graduate from East High in two months, I am planning my graduation party, I look forward to Senior White Day, Prom, the Senior Awards Assembly, the Senior Trip, and all of the other activities that seniors take part in.

I am extremely thankful that I made the decision to attend CCC as a senior. The classes gave me an eye opener to what college classes are like and I am graduating high school with thirty-five and a half credits! I am attending SUNY Fredonia in the fall to dual major in dance and special education. It is VERY helpful that most of my general education credits are already out of the way. I am so glad that I attended Corning Community College, and I would recommend this college for anyone who is interested in receiving an associate’s degree from a reliable college!

Monday, May 2, 2011

10 Intelligent ways to save and make money as a community college student by Sean Keenan

1. Apply for the scholarships in the spring for Corning Community College
2. Look around before buying gas
3. Buy laptops when there are promotions, for example, in the summer if you buy a Mac you get a free iPod
4. Don’t impulse buy -- it’s simple but often forgotten
5. Get a Wegman’s card especially if you live in Corning/Elmira area
6. Sell your old books on Craig’s list if the school won’t buy them back
7. Take advantage of buying cheap Jackals and movie tickets at the school
8. You can reuse tea bags
9. Sell your old clothing in the trade-in store on Market Street
10. Make a grocery list and only buy the things on the list

I'm going to Disney! by Kate Schiller


Well, it’s official. I got my invite to the Disney College Program! I was offered the role of Attractions which means I could be a Bell Hop at the Tower of Terror or a guide on the Jungle Cruise! There are a lot of smaller roles, but I’m sure you could see why I’d be excited about this. Well, if you’ve been to Disney World. If you haven’t… I’m sorry. You should probably book a trip this fall and come visit me! J I won’t find out what attraction I’ll be working until I check in on August 17th. Who knows? It could be more than one.


Now I need to decide how I’m getting down there and when I want to leave. I’m definitely taking my car. They offer public transportation from your housing to the park and around town. But, I wouldn’t want to be reliant on public transportation especially since one of my brother lives about 45 minutes away from Disney. It’d be nice to visit him whenever I wanted to.


I found out there is an auto-train that takes you and your car from Virginia to Florida! So, now I don’t know if I want to drive the whole way or take the auto-train most of the way. It’s about a 6 hour drive from here to VA, a 17 hour train ride to FL and then another 2 hour drive from the train stop to my brothers. I’ll be staying at my brothers the night before I check in so I don’t have to pay for a hotel. I hear people get there as early as 4 AM to check in even though it doesn’t start until 9 AM. I can understand getting there early because they don’t assign your housing until you get there but really?! 4 AM?!


So, it costs just a tad more to take the auto-train but if you factor in the cost that I wouldn’t have to stop at a hotel, it pretty much evens out. If I take the train I could sleep while we are still moving but if I drove I could stop and see things on the way down. Oh, decisions. But, on the positive side, my brother wants to fly up from FL and travel down with me!


Oh, I’m so excited! I don’t have any advice to give in this blog but just thought I’d share what’s going on in this CCC student’s life. Maybe next blog I’ll talk about my concern of packing everything into my tiny convertible to take down to FL. Oh, man…

Wednesday, April 27, 2011

Time is running out...to REGISTER! by Tara Bowman

With finals rapidly sneaking up on us, I think it’s pretty easy to forget that there are things that need to be taken care of for the fall semester: registering for class. With all those great classes in the catalog book that you’ve been wanting to take, you definitely don’t want to be caught making a last minute decision about classes that fulfill your degree requirement, but not your fun requirement. The sooner you register the more choices you have; and trust me; if you wait to the last second you could wind up taking some bizarre course like “Intro to Badger Anatomy”. Unless short-legged, omnivorous weasels are a hobby of yours, that probably won’t be worth your time, if you’re a computer science major.

Something I’ve also found definitely worth considering is summer courses. By taking some of those, I’m able to graduate next spring, on time; and right now is the time to register for those as well. Instead of the material being taught over a fifteen week period, it’s taught over a four to ten week period, which could be a positive or a negative. It obviously takes up less of your summer vacation, but there’s less time to cover the material, so it can be a little intense. The good thing about summer classes, though, is if you want to lighten your course load for the fall, and get one or two classes out of the way, you can. The summer is also a great time to take some of your wellness, or recreation classes. Some of the really cool ones that are offered over the summer are golf, yoga, kayaking, and I hear the vegetarian adventure is really good, too. So act fast! All the good ones will fill up fast, and you really don’t want to know that much about a badger!


Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Things I Wish I'd Known in High School . . . by Tara Bowman

I’m a first generation college student; a path blazer; a trend setter; you might even say that I’m a visionary.
Before you go getting the wrong idea, though, I’m here to tell you that it’s not all that it’s cracked up to be. Sure, going to college was the best decision I’ve ever made, and choosing Corning was the second best decision I’ve ever made; but there are certain perks to having college ‘veterans’ to guide you along the way.
During my senior year of high-school, I had the daunting task of choosing an educational institution to begin my journey to epic awesomeness. While a lot of my peers were receiving advice and insight from older siblings, moms, dads, cousins, and the lot, I was blindly forging ahead, making one of the biggest decisions of my life. Like, I suspect, a lot of high-school seniors in my position were doing, I made a lot of assumptions:
  • I made the assumption that when I graduated from high-school, I had to dive head first into my next educational affair. That’s what you do, right? In reality, taking a year off to ‘figure things out’ served me quite well. I got a taste for how much it sucks to work your butt off, doing something you don’t enjoy, for very little money.
  • I made the assumption that whichever school offered me the most money would be the best for me. Seems logical, I suppose. There are a lot of things I wasn’t, and should’ve been taking into consideration, such as, if I even like the school. [Take my word for it; this directly affects your success!]
  • I also assumed that the ‘norm’ was to choose a school, take out loans, graduate, and be up to my eyeballs in debt for twenty or thirty years. Everyone else has to go through that, so I will too, right?
If there’s one thing that I wish someone had told me when I was a senior in high-school, is that more money doesn’t equal a better education. I started out at a four-year college, with a hefty scholarship. Without doing the math, [the scholarship to tuition ratio] I accepted. I was flattered that this school was recognizing my hard work, and was convinced I wouldn’t get a better offer anywhere else; and if I’m paying that much money, it has to be top of the line. I soon found out, “you get what you pay for” isn’t consistently accurate. My class sizes were much bigger than I was used to, I was lectured to in class, instead of taught, and I was paying a lot of substantial fees for things I wasn’t even using. It didn’t take me very long to realize it wasn’t a good fit for me. I was never challenged, I was never enthused about the subject matters, and I certainly wasn’t too keen on the price I was paying for something I had no interest in.
I’ve learned more in one week at CCC than I did in four, at a larger institution, and at a very small fraction of the cost.
I often wish someone had let me on that secret. Julia Duncan—a CCC graduate, class of 1998, summed it up pretty well: By spending my first two years of college at CCC, I enjoyed small class sizes and professors I could meet with and talk to outside of the classroom. My friends at larger, more expensive schools had lecture halls filled with 400 students and classes taught half the time by teaching assistants. We got similar educations, but I had the better experience for much less money.”

I Don't Think Stress With Get You An A by Kate Schiller

I feel as though no matter my experience and how long I’ve been in school, this part of the semester always creeps up on me. I’m thrown off by the fact I only have a couple of weeks left after break and still so much to do and figure out before summer break. It’s the week after break and we’re almost finished. At least that’s what everyone keeps saying. I think it’s a lie. They’re lying to us! These last couple of weeks drag more than any other. It’s because we’re waiting, anticipating and kicking and screaming our way through.

Every semester I look forward to after break and every semester I’m disappointed that I didn’t properly plan for it. Why? Finals. Yup, finals are almost here. As silly as it sounds, I forgot I had finals. I think it’s due to my work overload and I’m only part-time. Things have been all out of whack for me this semester.
So, if you’re freaking out like I am about finals already here’s some tips I’ve learned over the semesters I’ve been here…
  • Map out a schedule of your finals week – It helps you realize what final(s) should be your priority. The other ones that are at the end of the week you can study on your days off (if you have days off from finals).
  • Get a support system together – Find out who in your class seems interested in getting good grades and ask them to study with you. If you work better alone, that’s fine. Make sure your friends and family know about your finals coming up. It’ll be easier when you tell them you’re too busy to hang out or do chores. The week before finals week is the only time I can tell my mom I’m too busy to take out the trash and she’ll let it slide.
  • Warn your job – Let them know it’s your finals week and try not to only take off the times for the actual exam. Give yourself more time off. Because you have off from classes, doesn’t mean you should pick up extra hours. I learned this the hard way. I figured I could pick up some extra cash but when crunch time came, I really needed that extra time to study and/or relax before the big exam.
  • Start making flash cards and/or brainstorming ideas now – Everyone has their own routine for studying but I found if I started making flashcards the week after break week then I was absorbing the information I needed ahead of time. Also, if you have a paper due as a final start brainstorming now.
  • Utilize CCC resources early! – Don’t wait to go to the Math, Writing or Academic Study center the week before finals. Go now. Especially with writing a final paper, they can help you brainstorm and give you resources for researching, and most importantly, help you with citing. And don’t forget, make appointments! I can’t tell you how many people had to wait for me to finish babbling about my ideas for my next paper because I had an appointment and they didn’t.
  • Plan time to relax – We learn this in FYEX (First Year Experience). You need to make sure you don’t cram right before an exam. Remember to take breaks when you’re studying. Trust me, you’ll absorb more information. And make sure before the big test you eat breakfast!!!
I know it still seems too early to be talking about finals… but if you start planning now, you won’t be as stressed out when finals week rolls around. I don’t think stress will get you an A.

Thursday, April 14, 2011

Impatiently waiting by Kate Schiller

The wait is killing me…

I love Corning Community College. I feel so at home here. I wish CCC was a four-year school. I had graduated from CCC last May, transferred to a four-year and then returned this spring. I’m still adjusting to the idea of moving away on my own and returning home. I feel more anxious than ever to start the next step in my life; I’m willing to do almost anything… even taking a trip to Disney World!

Yea, I said it, Disney World. I’m anxiously awaiting my response to the Disney College Program http://www.disneycollegeprogram.com/. Being college students, I’m sure you’ve seen the purple posters plastered all over our college campus. To me it always sounded “too good to be true”. So, I never considered it.


I have a diverse group of friends. The ones that are older than me have always encouraged me to experience new things now, while I’m young and don’t have a husband and three children. They all wish they had or have wonderful stories to tell. I want a sense of adventure and I feel now is the time for me. I have my Associates and I haven’t started needing to pay back large amounts of student loans yet…


It’s now two weeks after my initial phone interview and I’m already going insane waiting for a response. To pass the time I’ve spent countless hours watching YouTube. . . http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DGYHZX0EL38 . . . the best one I’ve found yet), reading blogs and partaking in forums about the Disney College Program. If you are curious about the program these are the best ways to get the inside scoop into the program. From my research I’ve compiled a brief list of pros and cons about the program…


Pros:
• Living in Walt Disney World.
• Working with a world-known company (great resume-builder)
• Disney discounts!


Cons:
• Paying my own rent.
• Working 40-80 hours a week.
• Getting a job that stinks… (custodial, quick-food service)
• Public transportation (that is, if you don’t take a car)

Could go either way…
• Moving away from home.
• Living in (hot) Florida
• Meeting new people.
• Gaining life experience.


I would like to point out that this program is not for people who expect to just hang out at Disney World on vacation for a semester. They will work you hard. The people I found who did not like the program were individuals who weren’t use to working hard, people who got roles (positions) they hated and those without a car. Take these pointers into consideration if you are interested in putting yourself in my shoes. The wait is killing me…