Student Disability Services

By Elizabeth Brown-Shook

                One thing I really love about Corning Community College is how dedicated everyone is to student success--from the President of the College, to members of the Regional Board of Trustees, all the way down to the adjunct professors who only teach one course.  I think that having so many resources here which, if students utilize them, makes it so difficult to fail, makes Corning Community College unique among institutions of higher learning.  I will continue to write a blog each week about our Dignity and Respect topics; however, in my Student Perspective blogs, I’d like to highlight some of the services that, in my experience, have contributed to my success.  One of these resources is Student Disability Services.

                Student Disability Services is located on the lower floor of the Commons, Room M152.  Allison Zimmermann is the Coordinator and Delia Hall is the Program Assistant.  I would not be where I am today without these ladies.

                In the interest of letting you, the reader (hopefully a prospective student or alumnus/a), get to know me, I will be candid.  I came to Student Disability Services because of my clinical depression and anxiety.  I was hoping to find some leniency because sometimes the depression can interfere with my ability to complete my school work.  While they couldn’t assist me with that, what they were able to do for me was allow me to have a quiet, distraction-reduced environment in which to take my exams.  What Allison and Delia do is help students with documented disabilities get the necessary accommodations they need to be successful in the classroom.

                If you’re considering Corning Community College, you may qualify for Student Disability Services if you were on an IEP (Individualized Education Plan) or 504 Plan in high school.  If you’re not a recent high school graduate (I certainly was not when I came to Corning), you’re not out of luck!  If you have a disabling condition that interferes with your school work, and a doctor or therapist can document your disability, go see Allison and Delia.  They can help you get the ball rolling.
http://www.facebook.com/CCC.Disability.Services?fref=ts
http://www.corning-cc.edu/future/sds/

Say Thank You!

The Dignity and Respect campaign theme this week is "Say thank you."  Do you have a daily or weekly gratitude practice?  Every day, on my to-do list, I have "gratitudes."  This is meant to remind me to write down five things that happened to me that day for which I'm grateful.  I find that when I make a concerted effort to live in active gratitude, the opportunities to express that gratitude expand.  For me, this practice, along with prayer and journaling, keep me grounded and keep stress from eating me alive.  This semester, I'm juggling 14 credits, a position in Student Government that keeps me very busy, a work-study job, and that doesn't even count my obligations to my family: my husband, elderly father-in-law, and two small children.  If I didn't have my daily practice, part of which is flexing my gratitude muscle, I would go absolutely crazy.

Today, my five things are:

1. That my son slept through the night last night

2. That the first of my three five-week computer classes is finished.

3. Cooler weather (I abhor the heat of summer and the cold of winter, but I LOVE the moderate temperatures of spring and fall!)

4. That my beautiful Betty (my car, a 2000 VW Beetle I purchased in May and have gotten off to kind of a rough start with) has run beautifully all semester so far.

5. That it's Wednesday and half my super-stress*full week is over.

Some days coming up with five things is really hard.  Like Tammy said last semester, practicing gratitude can be like practicing the piano.  Some days you feel like Lang Lang (look him up on YouTube; he's amazing!), and some days you feel like Schroeder playing Lucy's favorite version of "Jingle Bells" and it's like pulling teeth to come up with five things you're grateful for.  But try it.  Give writing down some things you're grateful for a shot.  Commit to it for thirty days, or if that seems too daunting, just commit to it for this week.  It's never taken me longer than ten minutes (if I feel really stuck, I write down things like heat, shelter, and enough food to eat) to come up with five things.  Can you commit ten minutes to gratitude?

Elizabeth

Listening

You can open up your whole world by listening. I remember when I was in middle school; we had this huge project about WWII. Towards the end of the project, we actually interviewed veterans of WWII. My interviewee was a Holocaust survivor.  The horrible things she had seen and been through were just chilling. I don’t think I have ever listened as closely to anybody as her. I am a college freshman and we keep in contact to this day. I have the utmost respect for that brave woman. After hearing her story, I became intrigued with other survivors and their stories. I had broadened my mind by listening to her speak. The respect I have for that woman is prodigious. Now, think of a topic that inspires you. Does it inspire you because you can relate? Perhaps you frequently read about it. We all know how fulfilling it is to talk to somebody who shares a similar inspiration. There is a student here on campus that will play his guitar frequently after classes. He plays so beautifully it feels incredibly inspiring. There is respect in listening to music. You need not verbally chat with somebody to hear, feel, and respect what they are doing, or in this case, playing. With listening, truly listening, you gain so much perspective. Not only are you opening your mind, you are opening your soul. I would never have gained such respect for that courageous survivor had I not listened to her. By listening, you gain respect from others and respect for yourself. The moral of the story, and frankly, one of the biggest guidelines for life (a golden rule, if you will) is that listening and respect go hand in hand. You cannot have one without the other. So listen up folks! You never know what you might gain! 

Cat

Speed Bumps, Pot Holes, and Unexpected Detours

By Christopher Chichester

If there’s one thing about life you can always plan on, it’s that things never go as planned. Creating a road map for life is important in order to remain focused in the right direction. Speed bumps, pot holes and unexpected detours can shake our focus and cause us to lose sight of our goals. Even when we are off course due to a wrong turn, no matter how far off track we may be, the destination remains the same.

College gives us opportunities, advantages and the tools necessary to have the most direct and smooth path to our desired success. Simply put, the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. The college system may not be perfect, there’s always room for improvement, but it’s usually faster to take the highway than it is to take the back roads.

By no means is college easy—but neither is life. The more you put into something, the more you’ll get out. Whether you’re having problems in the classroom or at home, CCC is here to help. There are some people with an entire garage full of nice tools that barely get used, there are some people with a small shed full of rusty old tools that are fully utilized to fix and create all sorts of amazing things, and they are all sorts of people in between. It’s important to recognize the vast amount of tools Corning Community College has available and how to take advantage of these tools that can be used to fix problems and help construct your future.

Tara's Thoughts

Final thoughts…

Yesterday I went to my transfer school to set up my schedule for the fall, and while I’m super pumped to take this next step, I’m missing Corning already. A new place, with new professors, and new peers, and like every other decision in my life, I’m taking a step back and wondering if I’m making the right choice.

When I first signed up for classes at Corning, I didn’t really want to be here, and I had no idea I’d feel so at home, once I was here. I’ve been delightfully surprised at the courses that have challenged me in both academic and personal realms.

However, my most rewarding experience at Corning Community College was my job in the Admissions office, which I’m the most sad to leave. I’ve never been a realist when it comes to obtaining employment; I’m not of the school of thought that a job is a job, as long as it pays the bills, and there’s something to be said about a person who has passion for what they do. [The world would be a much better place if everyone liked what they did for a living!] As impractical as it sounds, my motivation for working has very little to do with money, and more to do with whether or not the job will be satisfying in itself.

I have always told myself that what makes a higher education so rewarding is that it allows you the luxury of choosing a career that will make you happy and pay the bills. Well, being an Ambassador doesn’t exactly pay the bills, but it has made me happy, and has opened some doors for me. I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons, and made connections with people, that I am grateful to have met.

Part of the reason I have some of this uncertainty about leaving Corning is the fear that my next adventure won’t be everything I’ve built it up to be. I wasn’t crazy about the idea of coming to CCC, because I didn’t know what it had in store for me; it was a happy surprise when I came to realize just how wonderful a community it is here. I can only hope that my transfer experience proves to be just as outstanding. 

25 Easy Ways to Stay in Shape… (without going crazy!)

by Tara Bowman and Veronica White

1. Take the long way to class whenever you have time.
2. Avoid the fryer in the Cafeteria (Eat a salad or sandwich instead)
3. NEVER take the elevator when you can take the stairs!
4. Walk around in between classes
5. Participate in wellness events
6. Snack on small (healthy!) things between meals
7. Drink a lot of water; it makes you feel fuller, and it’s better for you than anything else you’re probably drinking!
8. Eat a good breakfast; it holds you over so you don’t binge for lunch or dinner
9. Stay away from vending machines!
10. Stay away from soda…
11. Buy cheap “toner shoes” (or ankle weights)
12. Make use of the fitness center (get here an hour or so before your first class or go after classes; it’s free!)
13. If it comes through the window of your car, you should probably try to avoid it.
14. The fewer ingredients your food has the more likely you are to eat healthier.
15. Park farther away, so you’ll have to walk more!
16. Volunteer to run errands at work
17. Incorporate at least one fresh vegetable into your bigger meals
18. Cut back on your portions, even if it’s only a little!
19. Do you ever notice how cats stretch a lot throughout the day? That’s because it’s good for you. It helps with tension, and makes your body more agreeable to exercise.
20. Practice good posture (it strengthens your core muscles…)
21. It sounds weird, but eat extra fiber; it’ll make your body feel less sluggish…
22. Make plans for the weekend; don’t just sit in front of the TV.
23. If you’re a drinker, cut back.
24. Don’t go grocery shopping when you’re hungry; you’ll buy more impulse junk food.
25. Choose more activities that get your on your feet (putt-putt, going for walks, bowling, etc.) You don’t have to run marathons; just don’t be a couch potato! 

Start with maybe two or three of these things, and then slowly add more good habits to your routine. Eventually the weight will start falling off, and you’ll feel a lot better!

Communicating Respectfully

By Tammy VanVleck

This week’s Dignity and Respect focus is on communicating respectfully with those around us. Merriam-Webster says to communicate means to “share”, “to impart knowledge of”, “to make known.”  The definition of respect is “a relation or reference to a particular thing or situation, an act of giving particular attention, high or special regard (esteem).”

It is so important to think about the words we say and how we communicate with those around us. We live in a world where there is much diversity about values, how we should live our lives, what is important to us as individuals. I’ve learned it is so important to respect these things about people.  When communicating respectfully with others it is important to keep these things in mind and to “give particular attention” to how we convey our genuineness to those we are communicating with.  A famous quote by Maya Angelou says, “At fifteen life taught me undeniably that surrender, in its place, was as honorable as resistance, especially if one had no choice.” Of course we always have a choice when communicating. Sometimes it is better to try to be open-minded in a conversation than to create debate and make someone feel disrespected for their thoughts and ideas.

Not only is it important to think about the words we say it is also important to think about the tone we use. When we respect others we want to communicate in a way that shows compassion and understanding. A couple more famous quotes by Maya Angelou I found interesting and go well with this topic are “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but will never forget how you made them feel.” When someone has communicated with me I hope they walk away feeling respected and feel like someone was really interested in what they had to say. The other quote says, “Words mean more than what is set down on paper. It takes a human voice to infuse them with deeper meaning.”  If our words and our tone don’t match we are risking not communicating respectfully.

Hopefully this blog has been helpful in learning a little about communicating respectfully.

JUST ASK!

Having been a new student myself, I’m all too familiar with the daunting task of getting acclimated to a new environment; new professors, new peers, new place, etc. For those of you who don’t know, this year the Admissions office team has been promoting a Dignity & Respect campaign (Google it!) and this week’s promotion is “ask”.

A lot of us are raised to believe that independence is a much desired outcome of our struggles. I’m going to go against the grain here, and tell you all that asking for help, asking for clarification, for directions, or anything else is not a weakness! I can’t stress this enough! One of the many things that make Corning so great is that there are people willing to assist you around every corner. Not taking advantage of such resources just makes reaching your goals that much harder!

Let me tell you a secret… when you graduate, and are handed your diploma; it’s not going to say “Congrats! You did it without asking for help!” It’s going to look just like everyone else’s. That being said, I encourage all of you (new and returning students, alike) to utilize all of the resources here on campus. If you’re not familiar with them, stop in at the Math Learning Center (S113 or U111 in Elmira), it’s a great (and usually pretty quiet!) place to do your homework, and ask questions (they also have practice exams, which are a great way to stay ahead of the curve!).

If you’re not taking a math course this semester, swing by the Writing Center! (C207 or U110 in Elmira) It’s not just for English Comp! Any writing assignments, for any classes; they can help with brainstorming, formatting/citing sources, or maybe you just need a computer to use, and they’re there if you need them! Maybe you need tips on studying, want to form a study group, or need help with one of your psych classes… go to the Academic Study Center! If you don’t know where that it is, it’s in the basement of the library (or U120 in Elmira). Some of you may not have had classes in the Science Building yet, but we also have a Science Learning Center as well! (Nursing majors? Welcome to your second home…)

Once again I challenge all of you to make use of these resources; if you can pick up even just one useful tip or habit from any of them, that’ll bring you one step closer to success, it’s well worth it…and there’s a super-fantastic prize in it for you, from yours truly (it’s a high-five for a decision well-made).

Tara

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.”

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