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

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!

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

 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XghJuH6GSCo

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