20 Pullman Community Update
Calendar • Dec-Jan: Adult Basic Ed, GED/HS; Online Drop-in, M-Th • Dec 3, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) • Dec 8 &15, 10am: SFCC Transfer Tuesday • Dec 11: Final Day of Fall Quarter ‘20 • Jan 4: First Day of Winter Quarter ‘21 • Jan 14: SFCC Pullman Honors Student Recognition • Feb 9, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) • Feb 12: Financial Aid Priority Funding Spring ‘21 • Feb 22-26: SFCC Intercultural Week • Mar 9, 10am: Community Chat (all welcome) • Mar 15: New Student Admission Deadline for Spring ‘21 • Mar 25: Final Day of Spring Quarter ‘21
COMMUNITY COLLEGES OF SPOKANE AT PULLMAN
DECEMBER 2020
ABE, GED, & HS21+ Completion Saida Garsellaoui recently completed her High School Diploma at the Pullman Center of CCS. By experience and outlook on life, she is a citizen of the world. A naturalized U.S. citizen, Saida is originally from Tunisia and, to date, has resided in six different countries before making Pullman the home for her husband, their six children, and one granddaughter. Saida is now embarking on her very first college classes. Saida shared the following with us: Tell us about yourself. I come from a little country named Tunisia that exists in Northern Africa right between Libya and Algeria. Even though I am now a U.S. citizen, I consider myself a citizen of the world since I have lived in seven different states and six different countries. On this journey around the world, my husband and I had six children, and now I am a grandmother to one granddaughter. How did you get started at our college? Saida Garsellaoui I found out about SFCC when my daughter was ready to start her college education. When I took her to the Pullman Center, I discovered that they have an adult education program where people of any age can get their GED. I jumped at the chance to start learning again. How did the program work for you? Being in the program came with ups and downs. It was challenging for me to balance my home life along with my work life. I still had kids in high school, so managing my time was really important and a frequently stressful task. Yet, being a student of this program had a lot of positive social aspects. The community that you build within it, the friends you make, and the new people that you meet and mingle who come from all parts of the world and have all kinds of backgrounds. I feel honored and proud to be part of this community and program. And look, the idea that even at my age and after such a long time without studying, I started something new and exciting. What would you advise others thinking about their education? The one advice I want to give newcomers to the program and, really, anyone else: Cherish the time that you have in education as well as the people you connect with during your studies. Some days will be challenging, but with a little patience, perseverance, a clear mindset, and help from your teacher and friends you will make it across the finish line. What comes next for you? Ha, the most challenging part of the program was worrying about the end of the program. What would I do once I finished? But because of the amazing experience, I plan to challenge myself even more! I will start taking college classes to continue my education. Amazing, isn’t it? Complete your high school diploma with us now! High school completion is a competency-based program for adults 18 years or older, which credits you for previous education, work experience, and a GED score. Our high school completion courses are available online and each student has an individualized study plan. With our open enrollment, you can start today. Call us 509.279.6458.
