The Blaze - May 2013 by Lafromboise Communications, Inc.

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A Publication of The Chronicle for Centralia College Since 2012 • www.centraliablaze.com

The Jobs Edition

Perseverance and Ingenuity Helps Student Reach Goals ‘‘Everything you go through is temporary. It’s just a phase of you growing up.’’ Michael Weymouth

By Courtney Simmons

Centralia College student

The Blaze

Each student at Centralia College has their own story to tell, each one as unique as the circumstances that brought them to campus. One such student is Michael Weymouth Jr., a 20-year-old Centralia College student living in Centralia. Michael said that studying at Centralia College has helped him gain better organizational skills and work ethic. He also feels his time here has helped him grow as a person. “I’m more willing to open up to people by being here,” said Weymouth. Though his life here has treated him well, Weymouth’s road to the campus was a bumpy one. Due to problems with financial aid, he couldn’t attend fall quarter of 2011 when he had intended to start. Though he was out of school and unable to find a job during this time, he never lost hope.

He created a lawn mowing and errand service in Tenino. “That’s how I created my own income when no other business would hire me,” he said. Spring 2013 is Weymouth’s sixth quarter studying criminal justice. Though his ultimate goal is to join the Federal Bureau of Investigation after graduating with his associate’s degree, he first plans on joining Reserve Officer Training Corps and then entering the United States Air Force. “[I want to] be with the Air Force for a certain amount of time, and then go into the FBI,” said Weymouth. “I love it here,” he said. “The criminal justice program feels like we’re family.” He also has a high opinion of the faculty.

Check, Please!

“I feel that the teachers here want you to be successful. They have us be more independent and not make us feel like we’re different from anyone else,” he said. Weymouth’s advice to those looking to create their own income is to be creative. “Show that you’re reliable,” he said. “You have to show etiquette, too, and professionalism.” Despite his perseverance, the odds still seemed to be stacked against Weymouth. In October 2011 he was forced to leave his parents’ house. “I didn’t know what to do at first,” he said. “On October 7, Sunday, I slept outside the library gazebo.” The following day, an Internet search led him to the shelter he would live in for the next

three months. Winter quarter of 2011, things looked up. Michael enrolled at Centralia College, was hired as a recycler at school, and moved into his own apartment. Within two months, he had received a promotion, and now works as a custodian. “I know everyone has their trials and tribulations in life, and I just can’t give up,” Weymouth said of his situation. “When bad stuff happens to you, you have to persevere.” Weymouth also added that his faith helped him a lot. His relationship with his mother and stepfather is improving, and he attributes that largely to their faith in God. “My step dad told me, ‘It’s all in God’s control’,” he recalled. “I’m realizing that now too.” Though Weymouth has been through a lot, he makes an effort to remain positive and think of others. “With all the stuff I’ve gone through, I can’t just be thinking ‘poor me.’ I have to think of others.” He said that everyone should remember that “everything you go through is temporary. It’s just a phase of you growing up.”

Latest Centralia College Drama Production Approaching

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Entrepreneur: Criminal Justice Student Created His Own Job When Faced With Homelessness, Unemployment

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By Emmalee Baker The Blaze

“Check, Please!” is the college’s upcoming spring play, running May 16-18 and May 23-25. The production is a collection of short comedies, the majority of which are written by award-winning contemporary playwright, David Ives. All of the plays are set either in a café or a coffee shop, tying the whole production together. “We intend on producing it in the Wickstrom, in the small studio space, with people sitting at café tables … And there will be two separate stages on either end of the room … The audience then will sit in between us,” said Brian Tyrrell, the drama instructor at Centralia College. Coffee and desserts will be served to the audience throughout the play. Tyrrell plans on retiring after three more years at the college. During his remaining time at the helm, he plans on continuing to lead the drama department. His goals for the department haven’t changed much throughout the years, as he still wants to showcase the drama department to the community while supporting the students and volunteers who work on the production itself. “I’m not sure that it’s anything different than what I’ve accomplished before, other than the opportunity to still provide both the community at

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Photo by Elliott Townsend / The Blaze

Brian Tyrrell, drama department chair, gives instructions to the cast and crew of “The Play’s The Thing: A Shakespeare Oratorio” on the last night of their Winter Quarter performances.

large, and our campus community, and the students involved, backstage and on stage, with a variety of productions to work on,” Tyrrell said of his goals over the next three years. The productions will represent a mix of classics, comedy and some features that haven’t been done before, like this dessert theater, Tyrell said. Since being established by

Margaret Corbet in 1925, the drama department has been an important part of Centralia College. However, there have been rumors that the Drama Department could be eliminated due to a lack of funding. Tyrrell was quick to dispel those rumors. Although the drama department’s budget has been cut back by nearly 20 percent over

the past three or four years, those reductions have reflected campus-wide changes. Each year, the department is allocated money by the Associated Students of Centralia College. The royalties for each production cost approximately $300-$500 with musicals costing upwards of $5,000 per show. The rest of the department’s budget goes to set-building ma-

terials, costumes and props. According to Tyrrell, the college just wouldn’t be the same without this important expression of art and human nature. Tyrrell, along with many others, believes the drama department is an essential component of not only the college campus, but of the surrounding community.

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Tips for Getting A Job: 1. Look the part:

Dress every day for the job that you want. In fact, dress above that. Unless you want to be a yoga instructor, skip those yoga pants.

2. Network:

Tell people you trust that you’re in the market for a job. They say that nine times out of 10, it’s not what you know, but who you know.

3. Become a presence:

Be a regular, greet other employees as friends. Or better yet, apply for jobs in places you already frequent.

4. Stock up:

5. Be yourself:

Know your strengths and weaknesses. In an interview, employers are looking for someone they could work well with. If you’re fake in an interview, chances are your job won’t last very long.

6. Be prepared:

Know what you might be asked in the interview, so that you aren’t unprepared. However, don’t go so far as to have rehearsed answers. Your interview should be as conversational and relaxed as possible.

Working Hard Now for a Better Life Later By Emmalee Baker The Blaze

A large majority of students attending Centralia College also have jobs, which can present additional challenges as compared to students who do not have to balance the two sets of responsibilities. Scheduling conflicts, added stress, and no time to do homework are all common issues. However, many student workers find a way around these problems in order to graduate college.

Student Perspectives

lazier, to be honest. I’m not taking many classes at the college this quarter, so I can finish my work whenever I want. It really makes procrastination take hold. As for working while in college, I would exercise more, and generally do more things. Sure, life would be a little stressful at times, but being able to go have a fun time after work would always be worth it,” said Posey. Even though working while

Amanda Purdue is a Running Start student at Centralia College. In addition to working part-time at Centralia Deli, taking 15 college credits and participating in orchestra at Centralia High School, Purdue also plays on the varsity tennis team at the high school level. This is Purdue’s last quarter at Centralia College before transferring to the University of Montana to study wildlife biology. “It definitely makes you more responsible, even though you have less time for schoolwork and whatnot … Overall, it brings your responsibility level up,” said Purdue about the benefits of having a job. Kody Posey is currently a student who is finishing up his associates of science after three years of college. During his first two years of college, Posey worked at a local Dairy Queen. As for Posey’s after college plans, he said his options are still open, and he hasn’t come to a decision yet. When asked if he preferred working in college or not working in college, Posey said he preferred working while going to school. “Well, not working while in college seems to make me a bit

going to college can be stressful, it can also be rewarding. Money is the obvious benefit, but according to Posey and Purdue, working in college has been beneficial and worthwhile. Both Purdue and Posey work to pay their way through school. Given the choice of not having to work while going to school, both students said that they would still work in college. “It’s a good peace of mind knowing that you’re accomplishing something,” said Purdue.

Student Employment Day

Job Fair

From 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Wednesday, May 8, Centralia College will be hosting its annual job fair. This event is located in the Michael Smith Gymnasium of the Health and Wellness Center. This year, more than 50 local businesses will be represented at the job fair. Businesses that will be there include Great Wolf Lodge, Centralia College and representatives from various Washington state departments. The job fair at Centralia College is free and open to both students and the community.

Summer Jobs

On May 20, the college will be posting a list of 50 jobs that will be available on campus for the summer. Students can find the jobs listed on the job board, in front of the financial aid office. Only students that qualify for financial aid can apply for on-campus summer jobs.

Photo by Elliott Townsend

Amanda Purdue manages the cash register area of the Centralia Deli, where she works after school. Purdue attends Centralia College and plays varsity tennis in addition to her job at Centralia Deli.

Dr. James Walton declared April 17 to be Student Employment Day. The annual event was dedicated to student workers who attend Centralia College. This year, students and advisers met in room 213 in the science center to recognize their hard efforts with cake, refreshments and gift bags. “Student workers are a valuable asset to Centralia College. It is important that we set aside a day to recognize

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Science Club Hosts Earth Week

Celebrations

By Emmalee Baker The Blaze

From April 22 to April 27, the Centralia College Science Club was busy selling homemade items and giving demonstrations in the Science Center foyer to celebrate Earth Week. Members of the science club took turns manning their booth, answering questions and showing students what Earth Week was all about. The club sold plant starts, homemade soap, crocheted coffee cup cozies made from plastic bags, and butterfly seeds. Butterfly seeds are native plant seeds that grow into plants that attract butterflies. The demonstrations the club presented were how to make eco-friendly cleaning products, as well as how to

On All Platters/Platillos

compost. “It went fairly well overall. We didn’t sell as much as we thought we would, but we still sold quite a few plant starts and a few other things. Many people seemed interested in science club and what we do, as well,” said Kayleen Carl, a member of the science club. One of the other activities the science club hosted, papermaking, was also a hit with members of the club, as well as other students. “You blend paper and water into a pulp, put some of it in a small tub of water, then strain some out with a screen and let it dry on a scrap of cloth,” said Carl, describing the papermaking process. Students that made paper got to take the paper home with them to dry.

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the students who work so hard to keep our offices running efficiently and our grounds looking so beautiful. Our students deserve the accolades and sincere appreciation we give them on this day. I hope everyone on campus takes the time to say thank you,” Walton said.

“Student workers are a valuable asset to Centralia College. It is important that we set aside a day to recognize the students who work so hard.” — Dr. James Walton, Centralia College President

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Keep a few resumes and letters of recommendation stashed in your car. You never know when the opportunity will arise, and it looks good to be prepared at all times. These should also be kept updated, especially the resume.

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Managing Life:

By Tania Peterson Guest Columnist

My typical day is a crazy blur of classes, business meetings, work, homework and family time. I am a full-time business major and I own and operate two separate business ventures. I am involved in the Rotaract Club as the president this year. During fall quarter I chose, rather foolishly, to be the musical director for a play at the Evergreen Playhouse. All of these things have helped me learn to better use my time, prioritize my work and communicate with those who oversee my progress. One of the things this challenge teaches us is how to balance our lives. I have noticed that students find out pretty quickly what is most important

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to them and prioritize accordingly. Some miss more class to deal with family and work issues and work things out with their professors to make up the absences. Others spend more time on campus during the week, making sure to get homework done before the weekend so they can spend that time with work or family. Each student works things out to fit what they feel is most important to them. The nice thing about Centralia is that most of the faculty is willing to work with students to accommodate those needs if students communicate in a timely and respectful manner. You’ll notice I said “timely and respectful.” Coming in two weeks later and attempting to blame an instructor for what is ultimately your responsibility

is not going to end in favorable results for you. All of us have made choices in what we are willing and capable of taking on in our lives and we need to take ownership for those choices. Taking advantage of the graciousness of faculty is only going to make it difficult for everyone in the long run. These lessons will be important moving forward. For those of you who will be moving on to more involved careers, it is these skills that will be invaluable to a future employer. Personal responsibility, self-motivation, multi-tasking, and prioritization skills are all things the business community has stated are the most important in looking for new hires. They are also looking for common sense, but I can’t help you there. Even for those who are

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Your Voice, Your Views

Doing what it takes to get the most out of CC self-employed it is important. I find that I get more efficient in my own business ventures everyday as I learn to work smarter and waste less time. Not all the learning we receive at the college is in a classroom. Some of it is in the working, club and social experiences we get here. In all our busy studying and working, we need to make sure we are paying attention to the little lessons in our daily routines as well. There is always time for some fun in all the crazy that is college, so make sure you don’t leave that out of the equation when planning your days and weeks. I value my social time as much as anything else. It is part of the learning experience, and sometimes you find you will remember more of the materials from class when you have had

a chance to discuss them with friends. I find this decreases time I need to study and helps me to do better on tests. All of us have crazy schedules, whether you are Running Start or returning students. Some have work while others have family obligations that can be pretty extensive. Make your schedule work for you. Sometimes that just means changing the way you view it. Taking responsibility can be one of the most empowering things you will ever do. Once you own your choices, there is nothing that can stop you from getting where you’re going. ...

Tania Peterson is the President of Rotaract Club and the owner of two small businesses. She will graduate in June.

Got Skills? The Blaze is always accepting submissions from Centralia College students for the opinion page, photos of events, or even comics. Think you’ve got what it takes to write for The Blaze? Email Editor-in-Chief Hallie Simons at editor@ centraliablaze.com, or call The Blaze World Headquarters at (360) 807-8250.

B THE BLAZE STAFF Editor-in-Chief: Hallie Simons Web/Print Design: Dakota Rakestraw Photographers: Elliott Townsend Sean Wills Sports: Janice Knutz Comic by Ely Tilley / The Blaze

Balance is the Key to Successful Living By Tyrell Lund Guest Columnist

Being a full-time college student is hard; most people often find themselves strapped for time. They have to manage their time accordingly. Most people try to balance their time between three important things. First, they are obviously taking college classes that have homework and other assignments that must be done. Secondly, some people have a part time job. Finally, they have social lives. These three things — college work, job, and social life— have a healthy balance. The difficulty is finding it for you. It is truly different for everyone. Having just one of the three out

of balance can cause you a lot of grief one way or another. We all have classes that have homework of one sort or another. Whether you are taking a math class or an English class, you will have homework and tests that must be done. I can think of more than one time that I stayed up late working on a paper, and then swore to myself that this would never happen again. The truth is that we all procrastinate. The question is, why do we procrastinate? Having an unbalanced triad can cause this. Now, I am not saying that we should sever all human connections. If you spend too much time hanging out with friends when you should be studying for a test that is due tomorrow or you

are just simply exhausted from working an overnight shift, then you have a problem. Obviously your college classes are important. You are going to college to get a degree to continue on to a get a job in whatever field of work that interests you. It is important that you do well in your classes. The next important one that people think of is working. You have to have money to pay for your classes, unless you have a magic hat that you can pull money out of. I think we are all in the same boat of trying to pay for college.

The final piece is having a social life. Friends are key to your mental health. I have had more than one occasion that I can think of where my friends have kept me sane during finals. Having a social life is just as important as working or getting good grades. The first time I tried to balance my triad, I decided that I would give up on my social life completely. I did. I stopped hanging out with my friends. I devoted more of my time to my job and college work. You know what happened to me? I became depressed. I started get-

ting even worse grades, and my work performance became horrible. I effectively turned into a zombie. The answer is not to simply eliminate one of the pieces of the triad, it is finding your balance. My balance is certainly not the same as yours. Only you can find your balance. Try experimenting to find your balance. Remember being unbalanced in one of these pieces will affect the other ones as well. ...

Tyrell Lund is a Centralia College student studying Computer Science. He is also an Eagle Scout with Troop 300.

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BEAT on the STREET How does working while in college affect your academic life?

“It takes away your ability to study, but it helps get you to prioritize.” Katie Burt, Rochester, 19, History

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“It helps me manage and be responsible with my time and duties.” Abigail Johnson, Tenino, 20, Music/ Business

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