It's Never Too Late to Succeed in College

Below is a guest post from the author of Community College Success, Isa Adney. You can connect with her on Twitter @IsaAdney or Facebook.com/CCSuccess


When Joshua Trader graduated high school in 2004, his parents gave him two choices: go to college or get a full time job.

Joshua spent his growing up years in Sanford, Michigan, watching his parents work very hard for little pay in order to put food on the table for him and his five siblings. Joshua loved and appreciated his parents’ struggles, but he didn’t want to repeat them, and though college would be the answer: “I wasn’t excited about college, but I thought it would be better than work.”

Halfway through his first semester at the nearby Delta College, Joshua became bored. Driving 35 minutes to campus, sitting through hours of classes, and then driving back home began to hold little reward for him. “It got old really quick,” he says of his routine. “I had no motivation, no real reason for college; I just thought it would be the better choice.” The lack of interest showed in his grades; he was failing.

College was Joshua’s choice – no one was forcing him to go. So when he decided he didn’t want to do it anymore he dropped out before the first semester ended. He got a full time job running a rock-climbing wall at the Midland Community Center. He started a corporate team building and leadership program, and as he facilitated these programs he began to develop a passion for, as he put it, “helping people become better.”

Joshua thrived in his job and was happy with his choice. Six years later, however, many of his friends were returning from college, getting salaried jobs, and doing big things. “It made me realize that while I was having fun doing what I was doing, I was at a dead end,” Joshua said of his reaction to his friends’ accomplishments.  He also saw co-workers with college degrees advancing. He realized for the first time that he would not be able to move forward without a college degree: “It took some time, but I finally realized what college really would do for my future.”

Understanding the purpose college could have on his life changed everything.
Joshua returned to Delta in the summer of 2010 and, at the age of 24, took a full load of classes. He still drove 35 minutes there and back. He still sat through hours of classes. But this time, Joshua wasn’t bored. This time, Joshua didn’t fail his classes. This time, Joshua got tests back with the numbers 98, 100, and even 104 on them. The only thing that had changed was his understanding of how college would affect his life.

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Last Boarding Call: CCV Spring 2013 Students Are Off to England

This photo was taken by my friend in the Tower of London on October 31, 2009 (yes, no joke - on Halloween!).  Can you spot the ghost-like figure?  What do you think - ghost or weird dust particles the camera caught?

Students enrolled in this semester’s study abroad course England through Words, Images and Music have started packing their suitcases.  On Monday night we will depart Boston and on Tuesday morning we land in London.  We will begin our studies in England by touring the Tower of London; a shameless and gruesome fact is that we are all looking forward to seeing the Block where Anne Boleyn (yup, The Other Boleyn Girl), one of Henry VIII’s wives, lost her head.  Our class will walk through Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre; travel to Glastonbury, regarded as King Arthur’s mystical Isle of Avalon; see Stonehenge and visit the Roman baths built on the orders of Emperor Claudius.  Next week, England will be the classroom for CCV students enrolled in this course.  To say we are beyond excited is a bit of an understatement. 

It’s pretty obvious that study abroad rocks because students get to travel to amazing places, explore historical and mythical sites, bring their studies to life in a different country and interact with each other and locals in an intensive and amazing way.  But what else could you gain by participating in a CCV study abroad experience?

• Deepen your learning and understand your classes through a different lens. Whether you're studying history, the environment, sociology or communications, you can gain a new perspective while away from CCV and Vermont.

• Be a better job candidate. If you want to stand out in today's job market an international perspective is critical. When looking for a job, employers find candidates that have world experience more marketable and more diverse than those that do not.  Study Abroad can provide relatable examples during an interview. 

• Meet interesting people. You're going to meet some incredible people--both locals and study abroad students from around the globe. You've got a limited amount of time, so don't be shy. Throw yourself into these new friendships and be rewarded with lifelong connections.  

• Find out they're just like us. No matter how foreign a country may seem, you're bound to have a moment when you're struck by how people everywhere are generally more alike than different. At our core, we're all driven by the same needs and wants.

• Find out they're nothing like us. To paraphrase Steve Martin, people in other countries don't just have a different word for every one of ours. They really think differently than we do. The customer isn't always right. You don't have to form an orderly line.   Soup is best at breakfast. It can be a little startling to have your assumptions tossed aside, but it's a good, if sometimes painful, learning experience. 

• Gain a new appreciation for your home country. Even the most open-minded study abroad students will be unable to avoid comparing their host country with their home country. When you return home, you will likely view your home county through a different lens allowing you to appreciate the unique qualities of your culture.

• Create a lifelong love affair with another country. Study abroad is not a short-term experience. It will shape you for the rest of your life. Back home, you'll look for films from there, for restaurants that serve its dishes, for books by its authors. It will continue to live in you.

If you are itching for an amazing experiential learning and travel experience, visit http://www.ccv.edu/study_abroad to learn more about CCV study abroad. In case you’re wondering, in the fall, students who enroll in the study abroad Current Environmental Issues course will travel to Belize.  Talk to your CCV advisor if you are interested in applying to enroll in the course.

  

Source: http://www.studyabroad360.com/articles/top-ten-reasons-to-study-abroad 

The One-Question Will You Be Successful Quiz

Below is a guest post from the author of Community College Success, Isa Adney. You can connect with her on Twitter @IsaAdney or Facebook.com/CCSuccess

I developed a quick  1-question quiz to predict whether or not you will be successful at whatever it is you are doing right now.

Are you ready?

Okay, let's go.

Agree or Disagree: "How good you are in the beginning is not indicator of how good you can become."  -Astronaut Mark Kelly

Got your answer?

Answer key:

If you said Agree: You are going to be successful!!  Woo hoo.  Do a little dance.

If you said Disagree:...well...uh...gosh...this is awkward...;)

I have to give all the credit to Mark Kelly who I heard say this yesterday at the American Association of Community College's annual conference.

When he shared this statement I immediately thought of students.  I thought of the students who struggled in high school; I thought of the students in remedial math and reading; I thought of those who e-mail me feeling defeated after failing a test; I thought of those who get a bad SAT score or a bad grade and think they just aren't smart, that they should give up now to protect their ego.

But the truth is, most great people were not naturally amazing at what they are doing now.  They worked hard and strategically at it.  And most importantly - they overcame obstacles because they believed they could get better.

Astronaut Mark Kelly said this when talking about landing his first airplane on a boat; he didn't do a great job and afterwards the commander said to him, "are you sure this is the right career for you?"  Mark didn't let that deter him, and he became one of the few who fly into space.

Do you really believe you have the power and potential to get really good at what you are doing right now?  Do you believe you can do this, get better, and reach greatness?

I'm not into cheesy pop psychology stuff; this stuff is for real.  I was just reading a great book from Harvard Educational Press called

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Vermont State Judiciary Seeks Summer Court Interns: Great for you CCV CRJ Students!

Pictured above: Montpelier, VT Courthouse

  

We just received this posting from the folks at the Vermont State Judiciary office.  This internship is a great fit for CCV Criminal Justice students - and a great opportunity for criminal justice students enrolled in  a summer Community Work Experience (CWE) course.

  

Court Intern

• 30-40 hours per week, flexible schedule
• From mid-May to mid-August, 2013
• This is an unpaid opportunity

Looking for

• Students with an interest in working behind the scenes in a courthouse to experience court operations first-hand.
• Looking for stronger computer and interpersonal skills, a professional attitude, and attention to detail.
• Associate or Bachelor programs
• Students in Criminal Justice or Paralegal studies are preferred, but other majors will be considered as well.

Locations may include : Montpelier, Bennington, Burlington, Rutland, and St. Albans

Work setting: Administrative offices of state county courthouses

Duties may include

• Customer Service - both in person and on the phone
• Data-entry
• Filing
• Research
• Computer Duties

To apply please send cover letter and resume to:
victoria.cutone@state.vt.us

Questions?  Call Victoria Cutone at (802) 828-4290

The Vermont State Judiciary is a branch of state government charged with overseeing the delivery of justice throughout the state.  We have a dedicated workforce of court managers, customer service, operations and judges.

The Vermont State Judiciary is an equal opportunity employer.  Successful candidates will be required to pass a criminal background check.
 

VSECU to Award Three Student Loan Repayment Awards

To assist Vermonters burdened by education loan debt, VSECU presents the Student Loan Independence for Today (LIFT) program. VSECU will award three $5,000 student loan repayment awards in 2013. A qualified recipient will be chosen from each of three different categories: First Generation, service to Vermonters, and Financial Literacy. Visit VSECU's Student Lift to learn more information about this great opportunity.  Applications are due to VSECU by June 14th.  Good luck!

Get the Internship Advantage

Do internships really offer job seekers a competitive advantage?  According to career counselor Peter Vogt, the answer is  -  absolutely.   In his book Career Wisdom for College Students, Peter provides reasons employers tend to make positive assumptions about students who have completed internships:

1.   Students who have completed an internship are more committed to their chosen field.  A 2005 survey of employers  found that 88% who hired college graduates who completed internships report that those hires who have internship experience stayed in their jobs longer.

2.   Students who have completed internships have developed the essential skills and traits they will need to succeed.  In addition to providing students opportunity to hone the hard skills associated with a profession, internships provide students an opportunity to cultivate soft skills that are so incredibly important to employers, skills such as communication, collaboration, research, critical thinking and problem solving.

3.   Students who have completed an internship will have references that can be specific versus general.  An instructor can tell a prospective employer how you perform academically and how you collaborate with other students in your classes; however, an instructor cannot speak to how you perform in the workplace.  Intern supervisors and colleagues can serve as strong references by providing relevant workplace examples to address specific questions posed by prospective employers.

4.   Students who have completed an internship understand the demands, stresses, rewards and ambiguities within in a profession.  Internships provide students an opportunity to observe and navigate office politics, to understand  the hours required to do a job successfully, and to experience, first hand, the fun and the challenges that can come with a career.

Now that you’re sold on the value of an internship, you might be wondering what kinds of opportunities are available in Vermont.  I recommend you start by searching:

Career Connections, CCV’s Career and Internship Opportunity Database

Vermont Business for Social Responsibility

VT Technology Council Intern Program

If you’d like some great resources to help you update your resume, explore Community College of Vermont’s Career Services. 

The time to secure a summer internship is now, so don't delay your search. When you find an internship, we'd love to hear about it.  And for those of you who have had internships - do you have any advice to offer for a successful internship experience?