Student Voices
"Root for yourself and be clear about your goals."
Marianna Sousa
Student / Communications / Former Student Trustee / Sacramento City College
Marianna was a babe in arms when her mother graduated from Sacramento City College’s hygienist program. And now a mother herself, Marianna is hitting the books 17 years after her last math class. At the beginning, Marianna felt that most of the students were half her age. But then she figured out that at community college you can customize your experience – if you root for yourself, are clear about your goals, and speak out to people willing to advocate for you.
Sacramento City College provides Marianna a place to practice and learn to be better. She is merging her visual, creative, and leadership skills with a new understanding of the value of relationships. She even went out and established enough of them to get her elected to student body president – then student representative to the Board of Trustees. Marianna knows life can get tough. But she says she has professors that tell her about opportunities and keep her on a trajectory, and that’s the true value of community college.
"I've found a home at the Veterans Success Center, a place where I feel I belong."
Jeff Landay
Student / Communication Studies / Veteran / Folsom Lake College
For the first assignment in his public speaking class in fall 2016, 30-year-old Jeff Landay was instructed to introduce himself to his Folsom Lake College (FLC) classmates via a three-minute presentation. He began by showing a startling photo of himself taken in 2006 as a patient at Bethesda Naval Hospital. To him, this one snapshot encapsulated what he had endured and would also serve to motivate him for what was to come.
Following a tumultuous childhood, Jeff enlisted in the United States Marine Corps immediately upon graduating from Oak Ridge High School in 2004. In January 2006, his Camp Pendleton-based 3/5 unit (3rd Battalion, 5th Marines) was deployed half a world away to Fallujah, Iraq. During a routine patrol on May 21, 2006, the humvee he was traveling in struck a roadside bomb that left one member of his platoon dead and seriously wounded three others. Jeff was barely alive, but somehow summoned the strength to drive the battered vehicle out of harm’s way. "They all thought that was Jeff's last act, to get that truck back to safety to get his comrades out," his mother, Michelle Landay, said.
Marine Cpl. Jeff Landay was transported to a hospital in Baghdad, then to Germany, and eventually back to the States. Jeff was in a coma for nearly a month having suffered a traumatic brain injury in which they had to remove the left side of his skull to alleviate the swelling. “By every account, I should have died. Technically, I was clinically dead three times,” Jeff recalls.
Upon his hospital release and at the age of 19, Jeff returned to Citrus Heights and faced a long recovery that included relearning to speak, struggling with Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), and the physical and emotional toll of a cumulative 52 surgeries to repair his injuries. Jeff’s harrowing life-and-death story was featured in the 2007 documentary, To Iraq and Back: Bob Woodruff Reports, and in a segment on ABC World News. The battle scars on his body became his badges of pride alongside the three Purple Hearts he had been awarded for his service to his country.
It was also during this time that Jeff began taking classes at Folsom Lake College using education benefits provided by the G.I. Bill and with additional support from the college’s Disabled Students Programs and Services (DSPS) department. He appreciated that the structure and self-discipline that had originally been ingrained in him as a Marine also fit well with that of academia. Jeff quickly endeared himself to students and staff with his combination of brutal honesty and unbeatable optimism.
The natural class clown also found comradery and compassion from other student veterans that frequented FLC’s Veterans Success Center. He enjoyed helping the “kids,” as he refers to them, most only several years his junior, with their coursework. “Jeff has inspired many veterans and non-veterans here at FLC. His ability to look beyond his injuries and stay focused on the future inspires everyone he comes into contact with…including myself!” shared Veterans Success Center staff member and fellow veteran Ken Walker. “When students get overwhelmed, they can always think about how Jeff has the same commitments and does not give up or even skip a beat. He inspires others to stay in the fight and press on!”
It was also at FLC in that same communications course where he was tasked to tell his story that he discovered he had a knack for public speaking. After receiving an associate degree in Interdisciplinary Studies: Social & Behavioral Sciences in December 2015, he returned to FLC to earn a second degree in Communication Studies. He plans to transfer to Sacramento State and pursue a career as a motivational speaker to hopefully inspire veterans and civilians alike. “We all have struggles,” notes Jeff.
It was that first public speaking engagement that gave him the confidence to share his inspiring story with others. When asked who would play him if his story one day gets the Hollywood treatment, Jeff said with a laugh, “Ryan Reynolds, because it would have to be someone pretty.”
"I can get through the day because I know I have somewhere safe to sleep at night."
Brittany Tipton
Student / Fire Technology and Paramedic / Veteran / American River College
Brittany Tipton didn’t believe she was cut out for college. “I didn’t think I was going to be able to go to college, I didn’t think I would be able to get through college, so I joined the Marine Corps, ended up blowing out my knee and came home. [The Marine Corps] changed the way I thought about the world, the way I thought about myself as a person.”
After Brittany returned home, she decided to enroll in American River College, in large part because of the large veteran population. She credits much of her success so far at ARC to Mike Robinson and the Veterans Resource Center. “Mike Robinson is a huge support at ARC. I wouldn’t still be in school without him. [The] Veterans Resource Center helps students all the way through. Not many colleges have that.”
Despite the support she received from the Veterans Resource Center, Brittany unexpectedly found herself homeless and faced with the choice of paying bills or buying food. She applied for a grant from the Veteran Student Emergency Fund and was awarded $450 to help her buy food and move into safe housing. It allowed her to stop stressing and be able to focus on school.
“I encourage anyone who needs it to apply. Without that boost, I wouldn’t have been able to stay in school full-time and work full-time,” says Brittany. “I can get through the day because I know I have somewhere safe to sleep at night.”
Brittany expects to finish her degrees in Paramedics and Fire Technology in a few years, and then hopes to get hired at a Fire Department. With a few years of experience under her belt, she then plans to take the investigators exam.
"FLC was the right choice; with quality guidance from wonderful professors the opportunities for my future began to open up."
Jason Ward
Student / Psychology for Transfer / EDC Student Activities Club / Folsom Lake College
Jason Ward, an amateur psychologist who always wondered why people do what they do, wanted to broaden his small-town view of things. So, he became a student at Folsom Lake College. And through his participation in several on-campus clubs and social events, Jason was offered an opportunity to study abroad via the Los Rios Study Abroad program.
As he toured the sights and observed the people in Rome and Florence, Italy, his worldview changed. " The most important lesson I learned from studying abroad, is that life is full of opportunities. Opportunities can be easily overlooked and then they pass. It would have been easier to stay in the comfort of my home in Placerville. But then I would not have walked the streets of the Renaissance, not seen The David, not made new friends and not experienced life in a foreign country," Jason shares.
Back home with world travel tucked under his belt, Jason was excited by opportunities that stretched ahead and where his college education could take him. He had a plan.
Jason believes that his degree from FLC in psychology will give him an edge when it comes to getting into UCLA, law school, and his desire to practice criminal law. He says the supportive staff, faculty, and student-led clubs he discovered at FLC, “a community hidden gem,” has given him the tools he needs to make big leaps in his education and career.
Jason advises that community college is a great place for someone who wants to explore everything the world has to offer. Community college is the perfect place to start, Jason says, it’s easy to get the classes you need, has a relaxing atmosphere, and is just a stop along the way to your bigger career ambitions.
"I’m ready to tell everyone community college is where I realized my dream."
Evelina Rybin
Student / Fire Technology and Paramedicine / Cosumnes River College
Evelina Rybin is one of the lucky ones. Even in high school, she knew exactly what she wanted to do with her life. Evelina was going to go to American River College (ARC) and become a paramedic. She knew but didn’t care that college was going to be hard – but what she didn’t anticipate was a predisposition against community colleges coming from (of all people) a high school teacher, and a bias against her career choice harbored by her family and friends.
Yet, Evelina persevered. She enrolled at ARC after finishing high school and went to work on her prerequisite courses. But one of the preconditions for the ARC paramedicine program is a year of first-responder field experience as an emergency medical technician. Undeterred, Evelina found an EMT internship class that sent her to a few Cosumnes Fire Department stations. At the fire stations, Evelyn learned all about a fire internship offered at Los Rios’ Cosumnes River College. She took a fire technology class and was hooked!
Evelina is planning to graduate with an associate degree in paramedicine, one in fire technology, and another one in foreign language studies. She hopes to get hired at a local fire department, and she wants to pursue a bachelor's degree in fire science; maybe even a master's. While fighting fires, Evelina envisions teaching fire tech for the Los Rios Community College District, a place where she found shared passion, friendship, and a place to belong.
The doubters in Evelina’s life who disapproved of her choices have come around to accept Evelina’s determination to follow her passion, and are even proud of her accomplishments. And to the high school teacher who snubbed community college? Tell your students there are options for everyone at Los Rios, so they should enroll in classes, find an interest, and follow their hearts – Just like Evelina did.
"I'm making more out of life – my way."
Carlo Lopez
Student / Computer Science / Sacramento City College
Life isn’t easy for Carlo Lopez. Like many community college students, his family struggles, and money, housing and food are mostly a daily focus. Determined, Carlo fends for himself by relying on hope, ambition and services available, especially the STEM Equity & Success Initiative (SESI), is a comprehensive, multifaceted program intended to increase the participation and success rates of Hispanic and low-income students in STEM fields and careers.
With SESI’s help, Carlo now knows the joy of academic achievement and wants people who are growing up in similar circumstances to know that joy too. His wish is for kids like him to hear what he heard at SCC: the sweet sound of a voice that says I have your back.
Even when Carlo was just in middle school, he knew a decent life was up to him. Nobody was around to expose him to life’s possibilities, so he took it upon himself to discover a world he knew little about. He applied for a library pass and researched jobs that require technology know-how. Yes, he was looking for a safe place, but he was also looking for an alternative to a destiny of limited choices.
That library pass opened a world of possibilities. Carlo taught himself to code by pouring over free tutorials. Best of all, he accomplished something, a reality that moved him to accept SESI’s help and try SCC despite his life’s brutal reality and an average GPA.
Now, Carlo is a full time student, studying computer science, and looking forward to earning a degree and transferring. He still plans on a career of helping people; beginning with those who think college is not for them. It can be done, Carlo tells those students. There is a way financially, and there is help academically. Follow your dream, think big and go to college.
Faculty and Staff Voices
"Counseling students at the community college provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with individuals of incredibly diverse backgrounds."
Chris Clark
Faculty / Counseling, Transfer / Folsom Lake College
Please talk about your experience counseling students:
I have worked as a community college counselor for over 20 years. As a counselor, I provide academic, career, and personal counseling to students in addition to teaching classes in the area of Human/Career Development. Additionally, I serve as the campus transfer services coordinator.
I love what I do. My interest within the counseling field began after having been inspired by a mentor/college counselor while I was a student at West Valley College. Counseling students at the community college provides a wonderful opportunity to connect with individuals of incredibly diverse backgrounds, life experiences and with a broad range of goals. This makes for a very exciting work place!
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Give yourself time when deciding on a major! Often, students limit themselves (and their natural interests) by choosing common majors because they believe they can get a good job with that degree. Often, these students don’t care for the coursework and end up doing poorly in their studies as a result. Students should find their passion (and this takes time) and study what they enjoy! It’s important to keep in mind that the majority of undergraduate college degrees will not lead you to a job in a specific field. Students who study what they enjoy can pursue work experience opportunities (such as internships or cooperatives) at the university level to gain experience in areas that pique their interests. The college degree coupled with work experience makes for a powerful combination when interviewing for jobs.
Students who are undecided may consider taking some of our career exploration classes such as HCD 310, 318, 330, or 335. Additionally, taking introductory courses in various disciplines is a great way to get exposure. Classes such as PSYC 300, BUS 300, SWHS 300, ADMJ 300, and ECE 300 provide nice introductions to certain fields.
What’s the favorite part of your job?
When I receive letters or e-mails from students who have transferred on to a four year college and share what is going on in their lives.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
That’s a tough one, as I have many. I have a favorite scenario that occurs with many students which makes me so thankful and proud. That is seeing students move forward with their educational and personal goals who didn’t have the grades or confidence in themselves while attending high school. Coming to the community college gives students an opportunity to begin with a “clean slate” and start over. It is incredibly powerful to watch these students transform and empower themselves through their community college experiences and education.
Additional Information:
- Outstanding Work in Student Services (West Valley College)
- Rise Above Award (West Valley College)
- Faculty of the Month (West Valley College)
- Innovation in Articulation Recognition (CIAC)
Chris Clark has his A.A. from West Valley College and B.A. and M.S. from San Francisco State University.
"Be open to learning and the process of discovery."
Linda Abraham
Faculty / Biology / Folsom Lake College
What aspect of Biology are you most interested in?
Biology is the study of life. I am interested in all living organisms but since I started teaching I have been fascinated by how people learn. This interest in education is coupled with my training as a bench scientist and the study of the unseen microbial world. Microbes play a critical role in our ecosystem and impact all aspects of the earth and its residents. Yet they are often labeled as “dangerous germs”. The more we understand about the microbial world the better we are able to evaluate the role they play in our quality of life. The vast majority of microbes are beneficial and just a small percentage, known as pathogens, cause disease. If we consider the impact of just three diseases: AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, we can appreciate how devastating infectious disease is on a global level. I am interested in helping students understand this dichotomy as they learn about microbes.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Firstly, be open to learning and the process of discovery. Let it excite you the way it did when you were a toddler. Get involved, don’t be passive, engage your mind. Find what interests you, pursue it passionately and learn at a deep level. In the field of infectious disease there is so much we talk about in the classroom that then is heard in the current news. Everything from drug resistance, MRSA, nosocomial infections, mad cow disease to H1N1. These topics come alive when you relate them to your own life and their impact on society. Patricia Cross states that “passive learning is an oxymoron; there is no such thing”.
Secondly, pace yourself. Science classes are rich in content. Do NOT cram for an exam the night before. Disaster will follow. Keep up with the material, whether you are reading or writing or thinking. Consider running a long distance marathon, you have to put in regular training to achieve ultimate success. There is an anonymous quote that captures both of these suggestions: “If you study to remember you will forget, but, if you study to understand, you will remember."
What’s the favorite part of your job?
I care about my students and my subject area. I am inspired by Parker Palmer, a highly respected writer and teacher: “[teachers] are able to weave a complex web of connections among themselves, their subjects, and their students, so that students can learn to weave a world for themselves.” I get excited when students see the relevance of the material in my classroom. I love it when students ask to borrow books to read and when they bring in articles they found in the library or in the newspaper. If I can play a small role in the lifelong learning process then my job has meaning.
Plus, I get summers off to travel with my family. This past weekend I was in Monterey with two days in the world famous aquarium, a few weeks ago I was in Yellowstone National Park. Last summer I explored the Great Barrier Reef in Australia. A teaching job has its perks if you like to travel and maintain a love of learning!
What was your proudest moment working with students?
There are many rewards each semester. I would find it difficult to choose a “moment”. I love to hear that students who have previously been intimidated by science find it fascinating and fun. Recently a student completed the class and then wrote a rap song inspired by gas gangrene. She sent me the YouTube link. Another student was accepted to vet school in Scotland. Many microbiology students go on to careers in allied health, particularly nursing. Some plan to work in health clinics in Africa or Mexico. I am humbled that I get to be a part of their career plans. I often joke with my students that if I am their patient one day I want to know that they really understand key elements of infection and disease.
Linda Abraham has her M.Sc. from University of Witwatersrand, South Africa and her Ph.D. from University of British Columbia, Canada.
"Life happens. But, whatever comes your way, don't give up. It's your life, your education, and that means it's your responsibility."
Tina Royer
Faculty / English / Folsom Lake College
How do you help students develop more confidence in their writing skills?
I'm honest with students about my own struggles as a writer- both when I was a student and even now. I often tell students about an experience I had in 6th grade when I was put into "remedial writing" and had to leave class with several other students to learn about writing while the rest of the class got to watch movies. Then, in junior high, I failed my 7th grade English class because I refused to turn any work in. It wasn't that I didn't want to do the work – I did complete all of it – it was that I didn't have the confidence to turn it in. My experience the previous year made me so uncertain about my abilities as a writer, that I didn't want to take the risk of letting someone else read it. Fast forward twenty-something years, and here I am, a college English professor, and I still feel that lack of confidence almost every time I have a writing task. An email, a poem, a writing assignment prompt – all of these still require several drafts before I'm comfortable sharing them. I won't even tell you how many times I rewrote my answers to these questions!
My philosophy is that there is little I can really do to help students develop confidence except to show them, by example, that writing is difficult for everyone. Beyond that, all I can do is offer honest feedback.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Don't give up. I failed or dropped 3 out of my first 4 college classes when I started as a student at American River College. It was my fault completely; I took on too much, and I didn't devote the time I should have to the courses. That, and life happened! I had other priorities, and school had to take a back seat. I almost didn't come back to school, but I finally decided to give it one more shot. Thank God I did.
I know my story isn't typical of many college students, but all of us deal with outside pressures – family, work, etc. – and school, though it's important to us, can't always be our number one priority. My advice: give yourself permission to make other things your priority. That might mean you earn a C on a paper because you had to make a cake for your child's birthday. Or you didn't do well on a test because you had to work overtime to pay your rent. Life happens. But, whatever comes your way. Don't give up. It's your life, your education, and that means it's your responsibility.
What's the favorite part of your job?
Making connections with people I would otherwise never get a chance to meet. Think about it, every semester, I'm surrounded by hundreds of new students. I can only think of a handful of them over my seven years of teaching that I would have taken the time to get to know if they hadn't enrolled in one of my classes. And, more times than not, I'm so glad to have made their acquaintance.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
My proudest moment happens every time I see students at the beginning of the semester who have little or no confidence in their writing, but, by the end of the semester, they recognize that their words have value. Most people aren't what I would call "good writers," but most everyone can produce a "good" paper, at least sometimes.
Additional Information:
My creative work has appeared in ZYZZYVA, Fugue, Poetry Now, Calaveras Station, The American River Review, and other journals. I won a number of awards when I was a student, including a Bazzanella Award from Sacramento State.
Tina Royer has her B.A. and M.A. from CSU, Sacramento.
"I become energized about the amount of learning and discovery that takes place here - you can almost hear that energy buzzing!"
Juan Flores
Faculty / Student Success Programs / Folsom Lake College
Please talk about your experiences working with students in your programs:
I have the best of both worlds! I meet with students to aid them in planning out their courses, majors, possible careers, and to address issues that might affect their progress in school. I then work with students in the classroom where I am a part of the process and journey that they undergo as they become critical thinkers, educated members of society, and leaders in their communities. It is an honor to be able to be trusted by the students so that they disclose some very personal issues and concerns to me. I am not in the business of solving students' issues, but working with them to uncover possible solutions, identify steps needed to address them, and empower them to act. That way they are armed with the knowledge of doing rather than have it done for them.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Be open to the journey that is higher education. Allow yourself the flexibility to be unsure about your major and career and to take courses that you have an interest in. Explore options, take the classes that interest you, and those that may intimidate you. You may find a totally new way of thinking, a direction, a passion!
What’s the favorite part of your job?
I love being on a college campus – just walking around, I become energized about the amount of learning and discovery that takes place here – you can almost hear that energy buzzing! And working with the students keeps me feeling young!
What was your proudest moment working with students?
When I hear a student say that my class was eye opening for them. That they were challenged to think differently than they were used to – that they look forward to coming to class…that is amazing!
Additional Information:
- "Diversity: Appreciating the Differences Among Us" - Chapter in the textbook Your College Experience volumes 5, 6, 7, 7th Concise
- "Career Development and the Migrant High School Student - A Curriculum for Counselors"
- Pedro Arrupe Service Award
Juan Flores has his B.A. and M.S. from CSU, Sacramento.
"I had a great many mentors and teachers along the way and now I am excited to be able to mentor others."
Ian Wallace
Faculty / Theatre Arts / Folsom Lake College
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Don't be afraid to ask questions. If you feel lost, either physically, emotionally, or intellectually, there are plenty of people around who want to help you.
What's the favorite part of your job?
I love working with the students and sharing my love of theater with them.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
I feel the most proud when a show opens and the set is finished, the lights are hung, and the costumes are made. I am always impressed by how much the students are able to accomplish.
There are so many aspects to theater - performance, directing, designing - how did you decide on theater tech as your focus as both a student and teacher? What most appeals to you about your focus?
As a high school student, I was drawn to design, because I got to be able to create new and different environments. I had a great many mentors and teachers along the way and now I am excited to be able to mentor others in the field of theater design and technology.
"Theater folk" seem to be especially passionate about their art/craft - does the passion of up-and-comers fuel your own love of theater and of teaching in general?
Yes, it is so exciting to see young people getting excited about theater. I have designed and built hundreds of platforms over my career and it makes me happy to see someone want to stay after class to finish building their first platform.
What was the first professional show that you remember seeing - did it set you on the track that you're still on? What do you remember about the experience?
When I was in the fourth grade, my parents took me to see The Wind in the Willows at the Children's Theater Company in Minneapolis. I remember sitting in the darkness as the house lights went down and the stage came to life. I remember some of the stage magic, where an actor jumped down into a trap in the stage and came back up and spit water out as if he had jumped into a pool of water. That was really exciting to me.
Ian received his BFA in Drama from NYU, Tisch School of the Arts, and his MFA in Theater Design from UC San Diego.
"When students get to 'play', learn something at the same time, and grasp the connection to the class – that rocks!"
Diane Carlson
Faculty / Sociology / Folsom Lake College
How do Sociology classes make someone a more well-rounded individual?
Sociology incorporates aspects of many disciplines (including History, Political Science, Economics, Psychology, Anthropology, Humanities, Media Studies, and so on) to help students discover more about themselves and how they are connected to others through a bigger picture of historical and social processes. Classes cover everything from the micro level (such as emotions, identity, and intimate relationships), to the societal level (such as divisions by race, social class, gender and sexuality; politics; media; environment; and social movements). Sociology makes visible the way societies are structured and the complex reasons why things are the way they’ve come to be. More importantly, Sociology encourages us to question our assumptions about the world, to break down stereotypes and systems of inequality, and to be active in the many ways that change happens. Being exposed to all this will help students be more informed and better members of their families, their work, and their local and global communities.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Be yourself, work hard, and don’t give up. Breathe. Connect to other students. If things get hard, get help. We have excellent resources at the college dedicated to student success – use them.
What’s the favorite part of your job?
The students are the best part of my job. Every semester is exciting because students bring new and different ways of thinking about the material. I also love finding interesting hands-on/active learning activities to help explore a concept or process. When students get to “play”, learn something at the same time, and grasp the connection to the class – that rocks!
What was your proudest moment working with students?
I am the very most thrilled when I have students who at the beginning of the semester may have been unaware or even resistant to thinking about multicultural issues and inequalities, who then later in the semester resolve to use their privilege and dedicate themselves to work for change in whatever arena they will be. This happens every semester, so I never cease being thrilled!
Additional Information:
- 2000 Guest Lecturer - University of South Africa, Institute for Gender Studies
- 2008 Adjunct Faculty of the Year – Woodland Community College.
Diane Carlson has her B.A. and J.D. from University of Arizona and M.A. from UC Davis.
"I see the classroom as a mini-version of society: people from different backgrounds with diverse experiences sitting together and having to co-exist and find a way."
Lisa Sapra
Faculty / English / Folsom Lake College
How do you help students develop more confidence in their writing skills?
From the first day and throughout the semester, I take the position of “anyone can do it.” One of my first lectures, especially in ENGWR 101 and below, is about how writing is not simply a natural born talent, that it is a skill anybody can develop through practice and hard work. This gives many students who have for such a long time believed they cannot write and therefore hate writing a slight hope that maybe the class won’t be so painful. What they find out is that it is a difficult challenge if taken seriously, but most of my students tell me at the end of semesters after they took my classes that they learned more in my class than in most others. These testimonies are passed on from student to student, which gives many students the confidence they need to succeed.
Throughout the semester, many students have panic moments; this usually hits around mid-term time. Many students come to my office, which I encourage them to do. This is part of them developing the confidence they’ll need throughout college. They need to connect with their professors, and when they do, they often grow in new ways. They are taking initiative to help themselves, and this is them taking responsibility for the outcome of their goals. Many students go through their trials on their own, and while many find their way, there are also many who sink in isolation. As a result, I encourage students to talk to me during office hour. In my developmental writing classes, I actually schedule one-on-one conferences with each student for a chance to connect with each student individually and give them feedback based on their individual performance. These meetings also allow me to help guide the students so they can move in the direction of progress for the remainder of the semester.
One option I give my students in all of my classes is the opportunity to revise any one essay for a better grade. This also gives students confidence that they didn’t have to get it right the first time, and just in case it didn’t all sink in on that first try, they have some recourse. This often makes some difference in their grade, and ultimately makes them feel like they made these choices for themselves, which in turn gives them a greater sense of self.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
A new college student has a daunting transition to make, and there are several things a new college student can do to ease that transition. First, at the college level, it would be wise for the new student to attend college orientation to find out about college resources and programs that he or she might qualify for. Most students are fairly unaware of all of the things they can do to improve their experience and outcome. Hence, in my class, I am informative in my syllabus by listing contact information for the Reading and Writing Center, DSPS, EOPS, etc., just in case the students didn’t learn about these outlets in another context. Fortunately, because I teach mostly basic skills classes, I have been working closely with the counselors, who have visited the class to further guide and direct students, talking about survival skills and whatnot.
On a personal level, I encourage new students to see college as life-changing and allow the experience to give them new insights and perspectives about their lives and those of others. This requires some commitment to independence and being an individual, as this is their lives, not their parents. They are no longer children, and since most incoming freshmen are around the age of 18, this advice is significant because they are claiming their lives as their own. For re-entry students who are new to the campus, the personal transition is much different, as these students are torn in many directions. A good schedule is necessary for all students, but especially for re-entry students who have families, work full-time, and are trying to get a college education. Set aside time for your studies everyday, but don’t forget to sometimes have time alone for just yourself. Balance is key for all.
What’s the favorite part of your job?
There are two things that make teaching a career I could not replace with anything else. First, I love being in the classroom, facilitating students’ ideas in group discussion, answering questions and clarifying ideas, and generating connections between students from different backgrounds. I see the classroom as a mini-version of society: people from different backgrounds with diverse experiences sitting together and having to co-exist and find a way. Even though it is not always a happy ending, something positive can come from this situation, as it forces each individual to pause and listen.
The second thing I love about teaching goes hand-in-hand with the first: seeing students’ growth. Even though most students learn something and change in some way by the end of a semester, it is rare that there is a significant transformation. But, every now and then, I get to work with a student whose transformation is profound, and this is one of the most rewarding experiences as a teacher.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
I have had many proud moments as a professor, and what they all have in common is a cohesion in the classroom between the students and me. We are all bouncing ideas off of each other, expanding our ideas as individuals and as a group, learning from each other, being challenged in new ways, considering new ideas genuinely, sincerely, and in the end, walking out with a feeling of fulfillment and energy. This is what many teachers call the “aha-moment.” But, I’d like to extend that to the entire group because when our students have that experience, somehow we do too. That is what makes me proud to be a teacher. There aren’t too many professions that instill that kind of growth and understanding, and I’m proud to be in a profession that does make a difference sometimes.
Additional Information:
- Zora Neale Hurston Forum 2002- 1st place award
- Sally Cassanova Pre-Doctoral Scholar 2003-2004
- English Department Award for paper on 18th century letters
- Graduate Dean’s List Honorable Mention 2004
Lisa Sapra has her AA from Orange Coast College and B.A. and M.A. from CSU, Long Beach.
"Get to know people on campus. Network with your classmates so that you can make friends and establish a support system."
Bernadette Anayah
Faculty / English as a Second Language / Folsom Lake College
Please talk about your experiences working with first generation college students.
The ESL students who come into my classroom at the Rancho Cordova Center, the Folsom Lake College main campus, or the El Dorado Center are here because of their overwhelming determination to improve their lives. They have overcome the challenges of leaving their own country and making a new life in the United States – with a new language and culture. Their ages range from eighteen to eighty, and it is not uncommon to see two or three generations from the same family taking classes. They know the value of education and appreciate the opportunity they have to attend the community college.
I can identify with their experience and empathize with them in many ways. Having lived, worked, and traveled in many different countries, I know what it's like to adjust to a new culture and learn a new language. I understand their vulnerability, their fears, and their humility. And, I recognize and admire their passion to achieve their dreams and succeed.
I believe in setting high standards and expectations in my classroom. I stress the value of education and tell my students: "You can lose everything else, but you will never lose your education." And, most important of all, I think kindness, support, and encouragement are essential.
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Get to know people on campus. Network with your classmates so that you can make friends and establish a support system. Join a club and get involved in college activities. Find people on campus that you can talk to when you need help or advice – one of your professors, a counselor, or a staff member. Find a place on campus where you feel comfortable and like to hang out – a spot in the library, the cafeteria, or a gathering place. This will give you a sense of belonging; you will not feel so alone; and you will have a much more satisfying and successful experience.
What's the favorite part of your job?
I enjoy meeting students from so many different backgrounds, and I love to hear their stories. There is always something new to learn. It is also wonderful when you have students from twenty or more different countries and language backgrounds in your classroom working together, overcoming their fears and prejudices, forming bonds, and ultimately learning that their commonalities are so much greater than their differences.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
I think one of the proudest moments was seeing five of my former ESL students walk across the stage at graduation. They had started in the beginning level ESL classes at the Rancho Cordova Center, transitioned to the main FLC campus, and completed their requirements for graduation. I was very proud of them.
Additional Information:
- EOP&S Instructor Appreciation Award, 2009
Bernadette Anayah has her B.A. from Trinity College in Dublin, Ireland and her M.A. from San Francisco State University.
"The skills one acquires in the Communication major, including conflict resolution, leadership, and critical thinking, are highly sought after by employers."
Paula Haug
Faculty / Communication Studies / Folsom Lake College
Why should students pursue a career in Communication?
Humankind has come up with some pretty clever stuff over the ages – but our greatest invention, by far, is language. Language – communication – is the essence of our humanity; it allows us to connect with each other and cultivate ideas and grow! Every career field, from accounting to veterinary technology, relies upon communication in order to function effectively. The skills one acquires in the Communication major, including conflict resolution, leadership, and critical thinking, are highly sought after by employers.
What advice would I give to a new college student?
My advice is simple: don't quit. No matter how crazy your life may get, stay enrolled – even if it's only for 3 units! Once your car stops visiting campus, it gets harder and harder to come back. So stick around. You'll be glad you did. That, and buy a tiny stapler to keep in your backpack. Your professors will love you for it.
What's my favorite part of my job?
I love that my discipline so readily lends itself to effective teaching. A lot of good teaching is good communication – so by modeling effective communication skills, I become a better teacher. I also love how technology has expanded my discipline. Communication once took place only face-to-face. Before we knew it, we were communicating in writing and via telephone and radio and television, and now much of our communication takes place via computers and text messages. It's fascinating to see how the media affects the message.
What was my proudest moment working with students?
I have been very fortunate to be heavily involved in both service-learning and AmeriCorps programs, so I've had many proud moments with students. My students have done everything from build houses for Habitat for Humanity to revamping music rooms at The Boys and Girls Club to teaching underprivileged kids to read. On a day-to-day basis, however, my proudest moments probably happen in the Public Speaking course. I've had hundreds of students, literally, who thought they would freeze up or pass out or throw up - and that has never happened once! It's wonderful to see someone do the thing they thought they couldn't do – and to feel like I helped them in some small way.
Additional Information:
- Outstanding Teaching Award, Fresno City College, 2006
- International Communication Association Outstanding Graduate Student Teaching Award, 1992
- "The Native Americans: What Communication Journals and Texts Tell Us About America's Original Indigenous Minority" Presented at the National Communication Association Convention, Chicago, Illinois, 1992
- "The Native Americans: What We Learn from the Social Science Journals" Presented at the National Communication Association Convention, Miami, Florida, 1993
Paula Haug has her B.A. and M.A. from CSU, Fresno.
"Career development isn’t something people do once in their lives and that’s it. It can and should be cyclical throughout one’s lifetime."
Julie Collier
Faculty / Work Experience / Folsom Lake College
What advice would you give to a new college student?
Don't try to plan your entire life. Allow for unplanned opportunities to guide you a little. This happens by getting involved in on-campus and off-campus activities: joining student organizations, finding jobs and internships, getting to know your professors, volunteering, and finding work that needs doing in a world with so many underfunded organizations that need your time and talent more than ever.
What's the favorite part of your job?
I have two favorite parts: First, meeting with students who are so motivated and hopeful in their quest to get work experience and start their career that they inspire me and secondly, networking with employers who are on-board with creating opportunities for these students. I've had the good fortune of working with several local professionals from companies like SMUD, Intel, and Vanir Construction Management who want to come on campus and mentor students with no other motive other than to outreach to their community and give back.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
At Sac State I worked with members of the student chapter of the Power Engineering Society. Over the course of four years, their officers sought me out as a resource in planning their industry panels. These students were so committed to serving their peers, so good at networking, reaching out to faculty and staff, and always created exciting career events. I nominated them for a leadership award sponsored by the Student Organizations and Leadership office and they won. I was really proud of them – their level of commitment, hard work and service to their peers and the university.
Did you have access to a place like the Career & Transfer Center when you were going to school? What do you think are the most-helpful features of FLC's Center?
As an undergraduate I did have access to a campus career center. I remember asking to do an interest assessment and they had me sit at a computer and answer a bunch of questions. I don't remember getting to meet with a real person who could help talk me through the results of that assessment. Later I found the counseling office and they offered career counseling. That experience was so much more valuable. I think a career center is only effective if there are real people available to guide students and help them in the self-exploration and research process.
Is the center a true all-ages facility that has something to offer every level of student?
Yes. Career development isn't something people do once in their lives and that's it. It can and should be cyclical throughout one's lifetime. Due to rapid changes in technology and the way organizations operate in today's marketplace, it's been said today's workers will experience between seven and eleven job changes over their lifetime. A viable occupation today could be obsolete in a decade so individuals need to be flexible and open to change. The FLC Career & Transfer Center is dynamic in the way it serves its student population, offering the latest career resources, advice and industry information.
Julie earned her master's degree in counseling at Sacramento State University.
"College is an experience that you will gain more than book smarts from."
Jason Pedro
Faculty / Medical Laboratory Technology / Folsom Lake College
What advice would you give to a new college student?
The best advice I could give is to learn how to be a college student. The key here is engagement. If you push yourself to become engaged in the material you will learn several skills critical to being a college student. It may take a semester or two, but engagement will teach you how to study and keep yourself focused on your greater goal.
Engagement doesn't stop at the classroom though. Get involved with on-campus activities and use as many of the provided resources as you can. College is an experience that you will gain more than book smarts from. You will learn life, job, and communication skills; and so much more, but you have to be engaged in order to truly benefit from it.
I call this the epiphany moment. It's the moment when you realize that what you thought was the best you could do, really wasn't. I went through this myself in college and found that engaging myself in the college experience was key to my academic success. Go to office hours – even if you do not need help. Utilize the tutoring center, or better yet become a tutor. The college experience does not stop once you leave the classroom.
My final piece of advice is to never pursue money. It's understandably easy to get caught up in the pursuit of a six figure job; however you should never sacrifice your quality of life for it. Do what you love and the money will come. If you don't know what you love, get out there. Do internships, contact companies, ask for informational interviews. Of course this all ties back to engagement; if you love what you do then you'll be great at what you do.
What's the favorite part of your job?
The variation. There is always something new happening, some new problem that needs solving. It keeps me on my toes and I love it. Best of all, it brings me back to the college experience that I loved so much.
What was your proudest moment working with students?
The proudest moment is seeing my students transform from individuals first learning how to hold a needle, to professional Medical Laboratory Technologists. It's amazing what our program manages to accomplish in such a short period of time. Our program has a steep learning curve and engagement is pretty much a requirement for success. Seeing our students enter into the medical field with professional licensure and a passion for what they do has to be one of the best feelings in the world.
What is unique about FLC's Medical Laboratory Technician program?
Well it's one of the first Medical Laboratory Technician programs in California. Also interesting is all MLT programs are governed by California law, which mean a few unique criteria are put upon us here at the college. For instance all MLT instructors, at minimum, must be current California-licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientists. As you can imagine, keeping up with these unique criteria brings some interesting, but solvable, challenges to our campus.
Furthermore, we set our standards very high for our program and its students. Laboratory professionals play a key role in the diagnosis and treatment of patients. We set our standards so high because as a patient you expect your medical team to be the best and the brightest, and that is what we aim to provide with this program.
Jason received his B.S. in Microbiology from UC Davis and is a State and Nationally Licensed Clinical Laboratory Scientist.
"I wanted more in life than just sitting in a prison cell. So, I decided to turn my life around."
Jeffrey Aparicio
Alum / Engineering / Cosumnes River College